They suggest that the debate has moved beyond victimhood and towards women becoming agents for social change, despite challenging, complex and conflicting circumstances. It is no accident that countries in conflict or recovering from conflicts remain at the bottom of UNDP's Human Development Index. African women are not only affected by conflict, but are also actively engaged as conflict preventers, combatants and peacebuilders, and take part in rebuilding in the aftermath. They provide for their families and maintain the social fabric before, during and after the conflict.