The annual open debate, which this year is titled “Women Building Peace in A Changing Environment, takes place at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York every October, now marking the 24th anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1325. Resolution 1325 emphasizes the importance of including women in mediation and peace processes, but 24 years later women are still underrepresented in such processes. This year’s topic underscores the vital importance of including women in peace processes, particularly in the current global security climate, as well as the contributions women can bring to ensure more sustainable and lasting peace.
Effie Owuor, Co-Chair of FemWise-Africa, which serves as the Secretariat for the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks for 2023-2024, and Chair of the African Union Panel of the Wise, said in her brief that “There is clear evidence that when women are involved in peace negotiations, the resulting agreements are more comprehensive, more durable and more inclusive.” Highlighting the work of women mediator networks in preventive diplomacy, she said the Arab Women Mediators Network in Palestine, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, have been instrumental in mediating conflicts in their communities, while others have mediated ceasefires or brokered the release of political prisoners.
"Women mediators networks are critical mechanisms for sustaining peace. They comprise of experienced mediators and relevant experts for peace processes – a qualified pool of women that can engage in mediation, facilitation and substantive support to peace processes" - Hon. Justice Effie Owuor.
The brief by Effie Owuor, underscores the relevance and importance of a global women mediator’s network and the experience and effort members of the network can contribute with in peace processes. More info on the briefers given during this years annual debate can be found here.
The Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks comprise of six regional women mediators networks including the Nordic Women Mediators network, (NWM), as well as the African Network of Women in Conflict Prevention and Peace Mediation (FemWise-Africa), Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN), Women Mediators across the Commonwealth (WMC), Arab Women Mediators Network (AWMN), and the Southeast Asian Network of Women Peace Negotiators and Mediators (SEANWPNM).
