Women's Contributions To Peacebuilding: A Comparative Analysis Of Middle Eastern Experiences

Objective: This article examines the contributions of women to peacebuilding in the Middle East through a comparative analysis of Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Iran. It explores how women participate in formal negotiations, grassroots initiatives, and post-conflict reconstruction, and analyzes the conditions that enable or limit their effective engagement. Methods: Adopting a comparative case study approach, the research synthesizes qualitative and policy data from 2019 to 2025. Directed content analysis was applied to map women’s roles within four core pillars of peacebuilding: participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery. Results: Findings reveal that Lebanon institutionalized women’s participation through its National Action Plan but faced challenges in implementation due to political and economic instability. In Palestine, women have taken active roles in local peacebuilding dialogues, although their presence in formal negotiations remains limited. Iraq’s second National Action Plan strengthened women’s involvement in security sector reform and community rehabilitation, while in Iran, grassroots civic initiatives have demonstrated resilience and informal contributions to conflict prevention despite restrictive environments. Across these cases, greater inclusion of women in peace processes is linked to more sustainable and community oriented outcomes. Conclusion: Women in the Middle East play substantive roles in shaping peace processes, yet structural and systemic barriers continue to constrain their influence, particularly at formal decision making levels. Strengthening institutional mechanisms and supporting women-led initiatives are key to achieving inclusive and durable peace in the region.