Securing Their Roles: Women in Constitution Making

Women’s participation in drafting constitutions leads to more equitable legal frameworks and socially inclusive reforms, laying the groundwork for sustainable peace. Yet new research from Inclusive Security reveals that while 75 conflict-affected countries oversaw significant reform processes between 1995-2015, only one in five constitutional drafters in these environments have been women. While there have been slow increases in the number of women involved in constitution-making processes since the end of the Cold War, women still must overcome discrimination and perceived illegitimacy once they have a seat at the negotiating table. Drawing on in-depth case studies, research, and personal experiences, panelists will offer insights on how early action and alliance building have proven useful strategies for overcoming such obstacles, and recommendations for supporting and empowering women in constitution building in the future.

Speakers:
Rosarie Tucci
Director of Inclusive Societies, U.S Institute of Peace

Palwasha Kakar
Senior Program Officer, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S Institute of Peace

Marie O’Reilly
Director of Research & Analysis, Inclusive Security

Amira Yahyaoui
Founder, Al Bawsala

Jason Gluck
Policy Specialist, Political Dialogues and Constitutional Processes, United Nations Development Program