Resources

The wealth of women's peacebuilding practice documented in the Accord series sheds light on what women peacebuilders have done to overcome conflict. The case studies of this Accord Insight focus on specific contexts, yet also provide three general insights for peacebuilding practitioners and policymakers: women's efforts can broaden the scope of peacebuilding; overcoming challenges to political participation is vital; understanding gender relations is key to building sustainable peace.

Elizabeth Drew and Alexander Ramsbotham introduce the publication and outline some of the challenges facing present day Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Richard Reeve and Jackson Speare draw on local people's perspectives to review the current state of Liberia's security sector. Despite formal efforts, rural areas are still poorly policed, women are wary of security structures, and tensions remain between formal efforts and customary security arrangements.

This conclusion to Accord 23 makes suggestions for peacebuilding policy and practice. It argues that peacebuilding policy needs to concentrate more on people, and building relationships between communities, and between communities and the state.