Considering that most recent conflicts were actually civil wars, civilians pay the biggest price. The cost is even close to 90%, most of victims being women and children[1]. If conflicts have some serious consequences on communities as a whole, women and girls are more affected because of their social status and their gender. Rape, forced pregnancy or sterilization and sexual slavery were often used in several countries as war weapons.
It is therefore important to protect women and girls during wars and conflict. But, to draw a long term strategy, it is important to think of strategies to include women and girls in preventing and resolving conflicts. Considering their important roles in African communities, we need to address the specific roles to be played by women in building democratic governance on the Continent.
