Women play an important role in the transformation of conflicts in West Africa by becoming active across political, religious, and ethnic affiliations. Theirs is often conflict management at the local level, where Africa's internal wars are increasingly fought, and their efforts can be the first steps toward reconciliation in communities devastated by violence.

At the end of 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325 to increase the representation of women in peace processes. The issue of women's participation in conflict man…