With UN Withdrawal, Sierra Leone Takes Lead of Own Peacebuilding Process
The closing of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) on March 31, 2014 was a celebrated milestone in the UN’s work in the small West African country. The UN took over from the Economic Community of West African States in 1999 as a result of the Lome Peace Agreement, and helped end a long civil war; 15 years later, the UN reports that Sierra Leone has shown remarkable achievements in the strengthening of institutions and in safeguarding s
To Bring More Women Into Peace Processes, They Need to Stand Up Everywhere: Interview with Akinyi Wa
To increase women’s participation in peacebuilding, they need to be encouraged to stand up and take on leadership positions in every sphere of their lives, said Akinyi Walender, director of women’s leadership at Cordaid, an international development organization. “Very often, leadership is defined mainly within the sphere of politics,” said Ms. Walender. “Yet there are so many women who are taking the lead and doing amazing things in their lives. “ Ms. Walender said local wom
