GENDER AND DISARMAMENT

ABSTRACT

In the history of international relations, it has always been the plight of women to bear the brunt of pain and hardship caused by wars and conicts. Regardless of nation, community or class, the burden of deprivation and hardship often falls on women. While all civilians suffer when war breaks out, it is women and girls that face most risk and bore disproportionately large share of the burden of conict, but they had a marginal say in matters of peace. The author believes women's rights and empowerment fundamentally predicate on maintenance of peace and security. However, women do not have a hand at the ofcial political level of negotiations and in determining terms of agreements concerning peace and security. Women will have to claim their political space, will have to gain ofcial political power so that gender perspectives will be integrated into State and intra-State decisions on peace and security.