As mentioned earlier, the most striking development about women’s participation in peace building is undoubtedly the adoption of UNSCR 1325 in 2000. While references of gender and women provisions in peace agreements was nearly 10 % in 1990, it had increased 45 % in 2013 with the effect of this resolution (Christien, 2020). Peace agreements have a crucial role in terms of rebuilding and shaping better environments in post-conflict societies. The rise of emphasis on women in those documents gives important clues about better conditions for women’s participation in peace building activities and processes. Besides, “National Action Plan (NAP)” has been adopted by many countries to implement UNSCR 1325 in national level. In this way, it is possible to pave the way for gender equality in these societies. 

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These developments are also valid for societies affected from conflict in Central Asia and Europe. Many states in these regions have developed and implemented NAP. Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Tajikistan and Ukraine are some of them (Peace Women). These plans are important for governments to achieve gender equality and encourage women’s participation in decision-making in rebuilding processes of society as well as providing courses of actions. Although there have been many problems for countries at the point of implementation of these plans until this time, they can make it possible to create long-term change at institutional level in favour of women. Furthermore, they provide a base and framework for advocacy activities of women’s organizations. For example, Kosovo Women’s Network, which was one of the actors in the preparation of NAP, has used Resolution to empower women in reconstruction processes of peace (Rogova et al. 2013, 35). This example shows us the development of the participation of women in peace building as active agents thanks to Resolution and NAP in Europe and Central Asia. 

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Another striking development was the adaptation of documents by the EU Council to support implementations of the Resolution. In this way, it has created remarkable economic sources for women’s organizations activities related to peace in regions as well as strengthening women’s rights.

 

This can be illustrated by the EU funded project, which has launched in Ukraine and aimed at contributing engagement of women in peace building projects. This kind of projects helps to promote the equal participation of women in political life by raising awareness about some important aspects and obstacles of peace building processes such as women’s economic security or protection and security needs. 

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Whereas these kinds of international organizations have had an important impact on ongoing positive developments, national and local organizations have a more important role on current progress in Central Asia and Balkans due to considering different factors and needs which is shaped by their regional culture and identity. Previous studies highlight that the localization of peace building can be used for the effective reconstruction and women’s participation in peace building processes more often takes place at local level (Leonardsson and Rudd, 2015). Thus, it is important to support and cooperate women at this level through national or local civil society. Fortunately, there are some important projects in Central Asia which are launched at local level. For instance, by means of local self-help groups in villages in the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, women in both countries have joined training courses about their important role in peace building as well as some other topics such as entrepreneurship or business planning. By using what they learned in these courses, one of the groups opened a child development center because they believe that “… peace building starts from early childhood” and their purpose is to spread peace building ideas among children (UN Women Europe and Central Asia, 2020). These kinds of projects create an alternative way for women to participate in peace building.   

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The last progress demonstrates the power of solidarity between different local, national and regional women’s organizations to improve women’s participation in peace building processes. Regional Women’s Lobby for Peace, Security, and Justice in Southeastern Europe (RWL) and Women’s Peace Coalition (WPC), which were formed respectively in 2005 and 2006 in Balkans, are good examples (Irvine, 2013, 26). By building regional networks, they had the opportunity to attract more attention for their demand, which was greater inclusion of women in politics and decision-making processes (Irvine, 2013, 26-27).  The result of their efforts were limited in terms of achieving gender equality in political participation and peace building processes in Balkan countries but even so it could be evaluated as successful (Irvine, 2013, 28). These organizations show that transnational solidarity between women can provide them a chance to have more effect or pressure on the international community and governments for their equal participation in peace building processes.