© UN WOMEN

Disasters, conflict, and terrorism bring disproportionate impacts to women and girls – but women have all too often been excluded from decision-making on preventing and countering violent extremism. A UN Women project works to ensure that women’s voices are heard in local policymaking to ensure action plans on violent extremism take an inclusive perspective. 

 “Women have distinct experiences of disasters and conflicts, and they have unique perspectives on peace and security,” said Dewi Rana, director of Learning Circle for Women (LiBu Perempuan), an NGO based in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, “including women and other marginalized groups in the prevention of violent extremism is essential.”

With support from UN Women and its project partner, the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) Indonesia, LiBu Perumpuan has helped women’s groups design a local action plan to prevent violent extremism in the multi-ethnic province, which has a long history of extremism and terrorism, as well as communal and social conflicts.

This process has enabled women from diverse backgrounds, including minority groups such as indigenous people, to share their views on ways to promote inclusive peace and prevent extremism.

"Women are powerful leaders and peacebuilders in emergency and conflict settings, but their role as leaders is often undermined –," said Dwi Faiz, Head of Programmes of UN Women Indonesia. "Building sustainable peace means ensuring that women's voices are heard and included in all levels of the decision-making process."

The programme—which also runs in the provinces of Aceh, Banten, Central Java, East Java, and West Java—has engaged 60 civil society organizations in support of Indonesia’s first National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism that Leads to Terrorism.

Read her interview here