This study critically analyses and shows the merits of women participation in decision making during post conflict peace-building processes. Also explores the African Union's (AU) mechanisms that can facilitate women participation in peace-building and decision making processes in post-conflict countries. The scope of this thesis will be limited to Rwanda and Mozambique as countries that have suffered armed conflicts but progressively managed in post conflict to increase women participation in both peace-building and decision making processes. Discusses what the two countries can contribute to other countries that are in a post conflict phase in terms of providing best practices. Consequently, a framework will be drawn from these best practices in conjunction with the provisions under the AU to address the role of women in decision making processes during post conflict / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2008. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Pauo Comoane / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM