The importance of women in transitional justice. Women's work for justice in Guatemala and Liberia

Abstract

This qualitative study focuses on women’s inclusion in the transitional justice process by comparing Guatemala and Liberia. Within these two countries, women have been active in assuring peace through grassroot movements. Previous research indicates a focus towards participation and local peacebuilding and although women’s importance in peacebuilding has been established, research is lacking in terms of transitional justice processes. The theoretical assumption is that with more women involved there ought to be a higher justice for women and the society at large. This is indicated because women will bring experiences of their perspectives of the war into the process and thereby reach an active survivor status. The research question to frame this research has been; does a higher inclusion of women throughout the transitional justice process increase possibilities of reaching justice post-conflict? To answer this question data was collected through triangulation from document analysis of international organizations’ reports and complemented with interviews with people that have had insight into the processes. The findings establish that women’s inclusion is important for reaching justice after war and that the women’s movement has a better chance of reaching change when integrated within state structures.