Women Weaving Peace Together: A Contextual Case Study on the Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency, Buka, Bougainville Province, Papua New Guinea
Andy Carl
December 2000
This case looks at the development and work of the Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency (LNWDA), a Bougainvillean NGO that works to address the sources of violence at the community level. In providing a detailed historical overview of the Bougainville conflict, the case illustrates how Bougainvillean women undertook concerted actions with women from the other side (peace marches, conferences, etc.) that helped persuade military leaders to participate in a formal peace negotiation process. The case describes how many of theses activists, with support from international NGOs and donors, later turned their attention to addressing the social problems of their communities. It also provides an overview of the activities of local agencies working on peace and development issues in Bougainville.