This article uses a comprehensive dataset of over 1500 peace agreements from between 1990 and 2015 to better understand those factors that promote the inclusion of, and provision for, women. Particular focus is given to inclusion at particular stages of the peace process, the role of power-sharing government formation, transitional justice and implementation. An analysis of the dataset provides four main findings. Firstly, the inclusion of women in peace agreement texts tends to be located in the more comprehensive stages of the agreement, and there is a high level of exclusion at the pre-negotiation stage, where their inclusion could aid involvement in the process pathway. Secondly, a hypothesis is posited that women’s inclusion in peace agreements will be more likely when that agreement involves a commitment to a power-sharing structure. The hypothesis is supported, and counters claims that women’s inclusion is ‘traded-off’ against the demands of antagonistic blocs. Thirdly, a thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke 2013) was conducted on all instances where issues pertaining to transitional justice and women were mentioned. Four overarching themes were found in the text: ‘women as prisoners’, ‘needs of women’, ‘women as victims’, and ‘new institutions for women’. A further analysis showed how and when inclusion of women in the text was implemented into more substantial reform. These results have implications for conflict resolution practitioners and can help inform practice in the encouragement of the inclusion of women in peace processes.
