aspirations and targets of UNSCR 1325 and build in women’s participation at all levels of decision making. The considerable obstacles posed to women’s full involvement in peace processes, participation in post-conflict public life, continued underrepresentation of women in formal peace processes25 and in mediation processes26 are also at the heart of various security council reiterations for deconstructing the systematic exclusion of women. Conflict resolution is predominantly framed as a ‘man’s job’27 with numerous peace processes displaying tokenistic ‘just add women and stir’ approaches to a critical area of governance.28 Because of the underrepresentation of women in security sectors and diplomatic corps, women’s absence is not seen for the issue of systemic exclusion that it is but rather as lack of eligibility due to socially constructed barriers. When undue emphasis is placed on qualifications based on experience in defence, military and diplomatic skills in peace negotiations and mediations, women are viewed as ineligible in such male dominated domains. The well-honed skills that women have in communication, mediation,networking, conflict resolution and strategic engagement are discounted as soft skills. The dangers of adopting purely technical, quantitative approaches to a core governance issue such as the women, peace and security agenda cannot be overstated.29 Root causes of conflict arise from structural factors such as poverty, gender, regional and income disparities and affect men and women differently. Successful interventions to restore peace require political, legal, economic, social and financial interventions that must reflect the priorities of men and women. Thus, recognition of women’s right and agency to articulate their concerns through decision making structures and processes at all levels is fundamental. Without implementing this overarching principle of inclusivity and participation in peacebuilding, sustaining peace or revolving conflict is jeopardised. 25 S/PRST/2005/52 S/PRST/2009/8). 27 Hunt, Swanee and Posa P ‘Women Waging Peace: Inclusive Security’ 2001. Foreign Policy No. 124: MayJune: 38-47. 28 Dharmapuri S ‘Just Add Women and Stir?’ 2011. Available at https://www.peacewomen.org/assets/file/Resources/Academic/1325-1820partpp_justaddwomenandstir_gender_peaceprocesses__parametersquarterly_2011.pdf 29 Myrttinen H, Naujoks, El-Bushra Judy ‘Re-thinking gender in peacebuilding ( 2014) International Alert 26 20