Women in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building in Garbaharey and Lugh Districts in Gedo Region of Somalia

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to find out whether or not the Somali women participate in conflict resolution and peace building process in Garbaharey and Lugh Districts Gedo Region, Somalia. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the level of Somali women in conflict resolution efforts and their rol e of pa rticipation of women in peace-building program and to identify the challenges faced by the Somali women in peace building and conflict Resolution and solutions or recommendations to solve the challenges. Questionnaires and interview were applied to collect data from the 100 respondents selected purposively from 1000 members of non governmental organizations, civil society and professional parties. The study found out that Somali women have taken some active role in conflict resolution by writing poetries and songs, encouraging community to resolve the conflict. The recommendations of the study were to encourage the elders to permit the women to get involved in the local conflict resolution conferences, and the researcher also encourages the international donors to be attending the Somali reconciliation conferences and to encourage the women to participate in the conflict resolutions for the gender balance.