The United Nations Women's Regional Office for Arab States (U.N. Women Arabic) has announced that it is debuting a documentary series highlighting the role of women in conflict and post-conflict states of the Arab world.
Titled "We Are Here," the six-part documentary series features women activists in Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Yemen and Syria and showcases the social, political, peace-building and conflict resolution work they have done to help rebuild their countries.
The series documents the dilemmas women in particular face during times of conflict, war and humanitarian crisis, which include an increased threat to safety and an increased vulnerability to displacement and deprivation from quality healthcare and education.
Moreover, due to deep-seated societal gender inequality that is often sharpened during such times, women are also excluded from the decision-making process in conflict and post-conflict states when it comes to finding solutions and maintaining peace.
Studies have shown that when women aren't a part of political processes and peace talks, negotiated peace agreements have a 25 to 50 percent likelihood of failing, according to U.N. Women.
On the other hand, studies have also shown that only two percent of all international aid to conflict-ridden states focuses on gender equality as a primary role, despite the powerful role women can play in resolving conflict and building peace.
“Women are the first target of violent extremists to change societies, and they must be our first target as well," said U.N. Women’s Regional Director for the Arab States Region Mohammad Naciri.
"Not only as beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance, but also as decision makers who are capable of standing up to radicalism and ensure inclusiveness and tolerance in post-conflict communities."
In an effort to empower women to become a part of the decision-making process in conflict and post-conflict Arab countries, U.N. Women launched a four-year program titled "Citizenship, Leadership and Participation: New Pathways for Arab Women," which provided Arab women training regarding participation in civil work, political work and peace-building.
More than 15 women from Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Yemen and Syria took part in the program that is now concluding and are featured in the "We Are Here" documentaries. They include activists, politicians and civil workers who have worked in conflict resolution and peace-building in their countries.
“A free woman is the basis of democracy as women are the basis of life and freedom,” said Syrian activist Majdoleen Hassan, who is among the Arab women featured in the series, as well as a member of the U.N. Women-backed "Syrian Women’s Initiative for Peace and Democracy".
"Peace does not grow without women. Women are the ones who push the most for peaceful resolutions as they are the ones with the greatest interest in achieving it and as they lose the most in wars.”