The second half of the twentieth century witnessed a dramatic shift in the nature of armed conflicts, where civilian casualties began to outnumber military ones. Women and girls became particularly vulnerable in such conflicts. As a result, significant ethical, analytical and operational challenges arose. One of the most important challenges was the need to develop integrated, gender-sensitive strategies and programme interventions to address conflict situations.
While gender inequalities are often visible in many contexts, there are instances where they are less obvious. Two such cases are women’s roles and responsibilities in times of war and their representation in global peace talks, despite research suggesting that women’s participation is crucial to achieving lasting peace.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, we are pleased to present insights from Selver B. Şahin, who shared her expertise on women’s experiences in conflict zones. Through her responses, Şahin sheds light on the unique challenges women face in these environments, their resilience, and the critical role they play in peacebuilding efforts. Her answers highlight the complexity of women’s experiences in times of war and underscore the need for a more inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to conflict resolution.
