Gendered Discourse on Human Security: Women’s contribution towards Peace Building in South Asia

Abstract

The UN Nairobi Forward Looking Strategy defined peace as not only the absence of war, violence and hostilities; it means the enjoyment of economic welfare, social justice, human rights and fundamental freedom within the society (United Nations, 1986). South Asia is plagued with conflicts and contradictions in its political, social and economic spheres and falls short of employing democratic ways by engaging different stakeholders of the society to cultivate peace. History is evident to the fact that women have been placed at the margins and excluded from the peace building initiatives; however, women still find spaces either within or outside religious and state institutions and pursue peace actively. Women Peace Activists and Peace Organizations employ creative ways to get their voices heard and contribute towards positive measures in the peace building processes both in inter or intra States discords and disputes. Employing 5 in-depth interviews of Women Peace Activists and analyzing the academic literature, the paper deliberates and discusses the human security discourse from a gendered perspective and bring into light the contribution of women peace builders in South Asia and their strategies used for upholding democratic values in order to make peace a lived experience and reality.