On Thursday 3 December, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, development minister Bert Koenders will open the Second Swedish-Dutch Conference on Gender Equality: Women in War Zones.

Women are rarely involved in peace negotiations and often have limited influence on other political processes. The aim of the conference is to determine how women can gain more influence in conflict situations. In his speech, Mr Koenders draws attention to the need to look at how women’s strengths can make a positive difference, in conflict and post-conflict situations alike.

Speakers at the conference include Leymah Gbowee, founding member and executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa, Sima Samar, UN Special Rapporteur for Sudan, and Dennis Mukwege, director of the Panzi hospital in Bukavu, which specialises in treating victims of sexual violence.

The conference is a joint initiative of the Dutch Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, the Swedish Embassy in the Netherlands, the Swedish Institute and the Women Peacemakers Programme (WPP).



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