Convening

Summary

On November 13, 2019, RESOLVE, in partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace, USAID, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, hosted an invitation-only expert roundtable on women, peace, and security and community-based armed groups. This roundtable convened policy experts, academics, and practitioners to facilitate knowledge exchange on women, peace, and security in relation to community-based armed groups, vigilantes, or non-state security providers in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The event is the cornerstone of the RESOLVE Research Initiative on community-based armed groups (CBAGs). The purpose of the roundtable is to identify knowledge gaps and research questions for upcoming research efforts on the roles of gender and women in conflict and community security.

The role of women and gender in conflict, including violent extremism and armed groups, is complex. The mobilization, networks, and operations of community-based armed groups affect women. However, women also play more active roles that support and enable armed groups and local governance and security systems. Exploring women's roles in informal, community-based justice, governance, conflict resolution, and rule of law mechanisms will expand the knowledge base on armed community mobilization and help understand alternative security structures for communities and women. 

The event was under the Chatham House Rule.