Women, Peace & Security
"We have to act now, we've no time to lose! Elections will be held in six months' time and otherwise, we'll be forgotten," says activist Salwa Saad Bugaighis. She's fighting for women's rights in post-Gaddafi Libya. She's hoping the Netherlands can help.
On Monday, Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal signed the Dutch National Action Plan, designed to put into action the UN's Security Council Resolution on women's rights. The plan aims to identify priorities and resources and set timeframes at a national level.
Three ministries, four research bodies and more than 30 aid organisations worked together on the plan which urges women's participation in decision-making and peace processes and promotes the protection of women and girls.
The Netherlands is one of 31 countries throughout the world which have committed themselves to putting the resolution into action. Many African countries are launching national plans but, in South America, only Chile has agreed to draw up a plan.
Minister Rosenthal wants to set up projects over the next four years in conflict zones in Burundi, Colombia, South Sudan and Congo, with a view to helping women attain positions of influence.
"Canary in the coal mine"
In the US, President Barack Obama has also signed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the plan will advance the peacemaking roles of women throughout US government agencies:
"Women are bellwethers of society and, in fact, sometimes they do play the role of canary in the coal mine. They know when communities are fraying and when citizens fear for their safety."
Peace in Liberia
One organisation that has proved women can play an important role as mediators during conflicts is the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. Dressed distinctively in white, they managed to bring the country's warring factions together to discuss peace.
Mary Boyoi from South Sudan nods furiously in agreement about women's roles in conflicts. She herself grew up in a war, in which she lost her father and brother. An activist and singer, she fights for women's rights in her newly-independent country.
"I want women to be treated equally and for them to be allowed to work in government. In general, women are peacemakers, but in my country, they have suffered enormously under the violence. They're frightened and have no voice or self-confidence. I want to change that."
With a budget of almost 40 million euros, the Dutch National Action Plan will be supporting projects that strive to do exactly what Ms Boyoi has in mind - giving women access to the levels of society where decisions are made.
One man
Fabien Nsengimana sticks out among the activists in Burundi - one man among women:
"My presence here is proof that men can also stand up for women's rights. In my country, there's a lot of work to be done for equality. Women possess a special sort of power. It's difficult to explain in words. They have a great gift in being able to deal with difficult situations. It's important for men and women to complement one another."
Mr Nsengimana has set up a training course with aid organisation Cordaid to groom 315 people - the majority of them women - for assuming leadership roles in society. It was a deliberate choice to admit men to the course. "Women can't improve the situation on their own," he smiles.
Danger
Change doesn't happen overnight. Foreign support is needed. The 30 NGOs are ready to lend that support. But there's a hidden danger there, warns Minister Rosenthal.
"The NGOs are all vehicles, instruments, and nothing more. They should never be the aim in itself, but the means to the end. Because this is about the women in the world you're helping and billions of those women have never even heard of the word 'NGO' - women who are fighting to move up in life to take over positions of power."
Flying the flag for Libya
Ms Bugaighis puts on a scarf coloured like the new Libyan flag and listens to the other activists. She knows it's not going to be easy.
"It's a whole change in mindset. I was involved from the very beginning of the revolution in the National Transitional Council. Now that Gadaffi has gone, men are starting to take a more traditional view towards women again. Women have to get more involved in politics. I want to be a proud Libyan woman and I want to exercise my rights."