Gender Equality for Sustainable Peace: Second Report on the Monitoring of the Gender Perspective in the Implementation of the Colombian Peace Accord

The Final Agreement to End the Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace, signed on November 24, 2016, by the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP), took an unprecedented step to apply international standards of gender equality to the peacebuilding process. This achievement was made possible because of active participation of women in the multiple phases of negotiation and the different mechanisms designed and implemented at the negotiation table, the commitment of the parties included in the leadership of the gender subcommittee, and support from the international community. The Final Accord establishes the gender perspective as a guiding principle for its implementation: it includes close to 130 affirmative measures to promote equal rights for men and women, emphasizing and requiring the active participation of women and their organizations in peacebuilding. In addition, the Accord recognizes the victimization of women throughout the armed conflict. It adopts measures for ensuring women have equitable access to plans and programs contained in the agreement. Taking this into account, and in accordance with the Final Accord mandate for monitoring, follow-up, and periodic reporting by the International Verification Component of the Commission for Monitoring, Promoting and Verifying the Implementation of the Final Agreement (CSIVI), the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies in partnership with Sweden, the Women’s International Democratic Federation (FDIM), and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women), have prepared the Gender Equality for Sustainable Peace: Second Report on the Monitoring of the Gender Perspective in the Implementation of the Colombian Peace Accord.