GIWPS Analysis: Anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords
December 14th marks 30 years since the Dayton Peace Accords were formally signed, ending more than three years of devastating armed conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The systematic and widespread use of sexual violence during the war drew unprecedented attention to the gendered realities of conflict. The courageous testimonies of Bosnian women before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) were instrumental in establishing rape as a prosecutable war crime and crime against humanity—landmark decisions that reshaped international criminal law and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence. The gendered harms Bosnian women endured—as well as their vital but largely unrecognized efforts to build peace and social cohesion across ethnic lines—helped galvanize political will to adopt UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Despite the fact that women were uniquely impacted by the war, not a single Bosnian woman was included in the formal peace negotiations, and civil society was not consulted at any stage of the process. The Dayton Accords failed to adequately address violations of human rights or transitional justice issues—including accountability for conflict-related sexual violence and other crimes. While the Accords succeeded in ending armed conflict, the agreement also entrenched ethnic divisions and created structural barriers that have complicated Bosnia-Herzegovina’s political, social, and economic recovery. The territorial and governance structures established by the Dayton Accords are viewed today as significant obstacles to reconciliation, accountability, and long-term peace.
One Bosnian woman peacebuilder shared, “I feel like Bosnia was a huge experiment for the international community…it’s organized in a way that is completely destructive, and it doesn’t work at all.” For many women, the Dayton Accords created a post-war Bosnia-Herzegovina that constrained their political agency and undermined their well-being, contributing to setbacks in their status and opportunities through the three decades following the war.
This anniversary is a reminder that peace is far more than the silencing of guns. The transformative potential of peace agreements depends on inclusive processes that recognize and account for the full spectrum of wartime experiences and reinforce the essential role women play in rebuilding after war.
Explore More
GIWPS Analysis: The People’s Tribunal for Women of Afghanistan Issues Landmark Judgment
Yesterday, the People’s Tribunal for Women of Afghanistan issued its landmark judgment—a…
A Call for Collective Action: A Conversation with H. E. María Fernanda…
On November 21, GIWPS hosted a conversation with former President of the…
7 Major Headlines from COP30
I recently returned from Belém, Brazil, where I attended the UN’s 30th…