Rwanda women ex-combatants want role in African peacekeeping forces

[gottaB]

Women ex-combatants from Rwanda are seeking a role in regional peacekeeping missions in Africa, highlighting at a United Nations-sponsored meeting their experience of warfare and its particular impact on women as major advantages in efforts to bring stability to the continent.

Pointing specifically to the Rwanda recent commitment to support regional peacekeeping missions by sending soldiers to help protect African Union cease-fire monitors in Darfur, western Sudan, speakers stressed their interest in assisting omen caught in conflict.

The role of women generally as peacemakers figured among the 10 stories the world should hear more, about highlighted by the UN Department of Public Information earlier this year.

Rwanda has no tradition of female conscription but during the conflict that tore the small central African nation apart in the past decade, hundreds of women voluntarily took up arms alongside men to assume military responsibilities and fight for the liberation of the country.

Rwanda women ex-combatants want role in African peacekeeping forces....