xvi
The paper lists five priority areas for research: post-conflict reconstruction, socio-economic
issues, justice and human rights, institutional reform and public policy, and the impact of the
conflict on women. These are then prioritized further according to the importance of the topic,
the research gap between the importance and the level of attention the topic has received, and the
need for capacity building among Colombian institutions in the thematic area. The interviews and
document reviews conducted in this study suggest that post-conflict reconstruction, socio-
economic research, and justice and human rights are perceived as the most important areas of
research. The gap between importance and existing research is greatest for post-conflict
reconstruction and justice and human rights. The need for institutional capacity building is
highest for post-conflict reconstruction and socio-economic issues.
Within these research areas, the paper identifies a number of specific topics that merit attention.
In the area of post-conflict reconstruction, the relocation of displaced people, social investments,
social and economic development indicators for gender equity, and gender relations in
humanitarian aid are deemed to be the most prominent topics. Among the socio-economic issues,
priorities include macro-economics and gender, participation in the global economy, agrarian
reform and access to land, protection of property rights, employment alternatives for women,
and re-training for women and especially for female ex-combatants. In the field of justice and
human rights, focal points should include reforms to the justice system, the establishment of a
truth commission and reparations mechanism, responses to breaches of humanitarian law,
alternative mechanisms for justice, humanitarian agreements and the negotiations agenda,
economic rights, and the development of human rights indicators which measure realization.
As far as institutional reform is concerned, research topics should include a diagnosis of the
situation of women and of institutional responses to women’s needs; the incorporation of gender
analysis in justice institutions, risk analysis, peace observatories and social indicators; and
attention to displaced women. As for research into the impacts of the conflict on women and
gender relations, it should encompass internal and external displacement and its consequences for
women, population dynamics, the social and psychological impacts of conflict on women, the
impact of the conflict on women’s rights and organizations, legal procedures to protect women’s
organizations, the impact of landmines, obstacles to women’s participation in peace negotiations,
and the documenting of women’s experiences in conflict zones.
Specific ‘States of the Art’ for each research area could help in the identification of entry points,
methodologies, resources and capacities. The paper recommends that the international
community establish a program to support research on peace and gender in Colombia. Such a
program could be based at COLCIENCIAS, the Colombian governmental institution that