Women’s role in peace process discussed

Burundian women also met in Arusha on Monday to discuss how they could influence the peace process, Hirondelle said. It noted that the all-party Burundi Women’s Conference is the first of its kind since peace talks began two years ago. The Conference was organised by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in cooperation with the Nyerere Foundation, which is facilitating the talks. All 19 sides negotiating in Arusha have sent female representatives, as have women’s groups inside and outside the country, including refugee and displaced women. “Our challenge is to identify solutions that relate to women’s problems,” said Jennifer Klot, UNIFEM’s senior governance adviser. “That’s what’s been missing so far.”