What's to come is more complicated: feminist visions of peace in Colombia
Paarlberg-Kvam, K. (2019)
Paarlberg-Kvam analyses how Colombian feminist activists envision peace, highlighting their push
for a holistic peace that tackles patriarchy, militarism, and neoliberal economic policies as the root
causes of conflict, rather than simply ending the armed conflict. Feminists and women activists
have argued for ‘paz integral’
1.1 Historical Context of Women's Peace Activism
Women have a long history of activism in peacebuilding, dating back to the early nineteenth century
→ Notable examples include:
● Quaker peace movements in the Global North
● Post-World War I movements advocating for comprehensive, anti-militarist peace with
gender and racial justice
● Pentagon March: protests against the arms race and nuclear proliferation in the 1980s
● Mobilisation for inclusion in peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Somalia,
Liberia, Cyprus, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Palestine, and Israel
1.2 Feminist Understandings of Peace
Feminist scholars have significantly expanded the understanding of peace, moving beyond traditional,
masculinist definitions
● Holistic peace: this approach views peace as intertwined with social justice, encompassing
anti-militarism, anti-racism, anti-classism, and economic justice (ie structural violence)
● Critique of militarism: feminist discourse emphasises the role of militarism, defined as the
extension of war-related values and activities into social and political life, in enforcing free
market hegemony and sustaining patriarchal systems
● UNSCR 1325: the passage of this resolution in 2000, thanks to feminist activism, marked a
significant step towards the inclusion of women in peace negotiations and peacebuilding
institutions
1.3 Women in Colombian Peace Processes
Historically, women have been excluded from formal peace negotiations in Colombia. However,
women activists played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the 2012-2016 peace talks with the
FARC-EP and ensuring the inclusion of a gender perspective in the accords.
1.4 Key Themes in Feminist Visions of Peace
Paarlberg-Kvam focuses on three women’s peace networks in Colombia:
1. Movimiento Social de Mujeres Contra la Guerra y por la Paz (MSM): based in the oil-rich
Magdalena Medio region, this network emerged from the Popular Women’s Organization
(OFP) and focused on anti-militarism and denouncing violence against women
, 2. Ruta Pacífica de Mujeres: a national network with eight regional offices, Ruta Pacífica
defines itself as feminist, pacifist, and anti-militarist, employing mass mobilisations and
symbolic actions to challenge the militarisation of society
3. Red de Mujeres del Caribe Colombiano (RMCC): founded in 1994 on the Caribbean coast,
this network advocates for regional autonomy, seeking peace that includes control over local
resources and challenges the extractivist model
All three networks represent racialised regions of Colombia, often overlooked by organisations based
in the capital. They share a commitment to social justice and a broader vision of peace that goes
beyond the formal accords.
Interviews with activists from these networks revealed three interconnected themes in their
understanding of peace:
● A feminist peace: this vision centres on dismantling patriarchy and addressing gender
violence as fundamental components of peacebuilding
● A demilitarised peace: activists call for a demilitarisation of society, extending beyond the
demobilisation of armed groups to encompass civilian life, territories, and consciousness.
They advocate for a positive peace that addresses structural inequalities and prevents future
conflict
● A peace that challenges market hegemony: feminist visions challenge the dominant neoliberal
economic model based on resource extraction, highlighting its role in driving conflict and
dispossession, particularly for women in rural communities
1.5 The Havana Negotiations: A Limited Vision?
While acknowledging the importance of the Havana negotiations and the inclusion of a gender
perspective in the accords, activists expressed concerns about the limited scope of the peace process
→ argued that a true peace process should involve broader participation from civil society
and
address the structural inequalities driving conflict
1.6 Feminism's Future Possibilities
A Radical Turn? Anti-neoliberalism in Post-Accords Colombia
Paarlberg-Kvam suggest two factors that could lead to a radicalisation of feminist critiques of
neoliberalism in the post-accords period:
1. Opening of discursive space: the reduction in violence may create more space for activists to
openly address economic issues and challenge neoliberal policies
2. Potential radicalisation of the feminist movement: the FARC-EP's demobilisation and
institutionalisation, coupled with the potential disillusionment of FARC-EP women (Farianas)
with the limitations of the peace process, could contribute to a more radical feminist
movement
1.7 Potential Obstacles: Divestment from Social Action
Paarlberg-Kvam, K. (2019)
Paarlberg-Kvam analyses how Colombian feminist activists envision peace, highlighting their push
for a holistic peace that tackles patriarchy, militarism, and neoliberal economic policies as the root
causes of conflict, rather than simply ending the armed conflict. Feminists and women activists
have argued for ‘paz integral’
1.1 Historical Context of Women's Peace Activism
Women have a long history of activism in peacebuilding, dating back to the early nineteenth century
→ Notable examples include:
● Quaker peace movements in the Global North
● Post-World War I movements advocating for comprehensive, anti-militarist peace with
gender and racial justice
● Pentagon March: protests against the arms race and nuclear proliferation in the 1980s
● Mobilisation for inclusion in peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, Guatemala, Somalia,
Liberia, Cyprus, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Palestine, and Israel
1.2 Feminist Understandings of Peace
Feminist scholars have significantly expanded the understanding of peace, moving beyond traditional,
masculinist definitions
● Holistic peace: this approach views peace as intertwined with social justice, encompassing
anti-militarism, anti-racism, anti-classism, and economic justice (ie structural violence)
● Critique of militarism: feminist discourse emphasises the role of militarism, defined as the
extension of war-related values and activities into social and political life, in enforcing free
market hegemony and sustaining patriarchal systems
● UNSCR 1325: the passage of this resolution in 2000, thanks to feminist activism, marked a
significant step towards the inclusion of women in peace negotiations and peacebuilding
institutions
1.3 Women in Colombian Peace Processes
Historically, women have been excluded from formal peace negotiations in Colombia. However,
women activists played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the 2012-2016 peace talks with the
FARC-EP and ensuring the inclusion of a gender perspective in the accords.
1.4 Key Themes in Feminist Visions of Peace
Paarlberg-Kvam focuses on three women’s peace networks in Colombia:
1. Movimiento Social de Mujeres Contra la Guerra y por la Paz (MSM): based in the oil-rich
Magdalena Medio region, this network emerged from the Popular Women’s Organization
(OFP) and focused on anti-militarism and denouncing violence against women
, 2. Ruta Pacífica de Mujeres: a national network with eight regional offices, Ruta Pacífica
defines itself as feminist, pacifist, and anti-militarist, employing mass mobilisations and
symbolic actions to challenge the militarisation of society
3. Red de Mujeres del Caribe Colombiano (RMCC): founded in 1994 on the Caribbean coast,
this network advocates for regional autonomy, seeking peace that includes control over local
resources and challenges the extractivist model
All three networks represent racialised regions of Colombia, often overlooked by organisations based
in the capital. They share a commitment to social justice and a broader vision of peace that goes
beyond the formal accords.
Interviews with activists from these networks revealed three interconnected themes in their
understanding of peace:
● A feminist peace: this vision centres on dismantling patriarchy and addressing gender
violence as fundamental components of peacebuilding
● A demilitarised peace: activists call for a demilitarisation of society, extending beyond the
demobilisation of armed groups to encompass civilian life, territories, and consciousness.
They advocate for a positive peace that addresses structural inequalities and prevents future
conflict
● A peace that challenges market hegemony: feminist visions challenge the dominant neoliberal
economic model based on resource extraction, highlighting its role in driving conflict and
dispossession, particularly for women in rural communities
1.5 The Havana Negotiations: A Limited Vision?
While acknowledging the importance of the Havana negotiations and the inclusion of a gender
perspective in the accords, activists expressed concerns about the limited scope of the peace process
→ argued that a true peace process should involve broader participation from civil society
and
address the structural inequalities driving conflict
1.6 Feminism's Future Possibilities
A Radical Turn? Anti-neoliberalism in Post-Accords Colombia
Paarlberg-Kvam suggest two factors that could lead to a radicalisation of feminist critiques of
neoliberalism in the post-accords period:
1. Opening of discursive space: the reduction in violence may create more space for activists to
openly address economic issues and challenge neoliberal policies
2. Potential radicalisation of the feminist movement: the FARC-EP's demobilisation and
institutionalisation, coupled with the potential disillusionment of FARC-EP women (Farianas)
with the limitations of the peace process, could contribute to a more radical feminist
movement
1.7 Potential Obstacles: Divestment from Social Action
