Women Mediators: Connecting Local and Global Peacebuilders
Wednesday, September 26, 2018, 4:00-5:30pm
Trygve Lie Center for Peace, Security & Development
International Peace Institute
777 United Nations Plaza, 12th Floor
(Corner of 1st Avenue and 44th Street)
The International Peace Institute (IPI) in partnership with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) is pleased to invite you to an event entitled “Women Mediators: Connecting Local and Global Peacebuilders”. The event will take place at IPI on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm.
Opening Remarks:
- Mr. Terje Rød-Larsen, President, International Peace Institute
Speakers:
- H.E. Mrs. Adela Raz, Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- H.E. Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Norway
- Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK
- H.E. Ms. Ana Maria Menéndez, Senior Adviser of the Secretary-General on Policy, United Nations
- Ms. Rajaa Altalli, Co-Director of Center for Civil Society and Democracy CCSD
- Local peacebuilder, Yemen TBC
Moderator:
- Ms. Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, Founder and Executive Director, ICAN
Women activists and women’s organizations frequently contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding at the local level. However, they continue to be significantly underrepresented in formal peace processes. In fact, women made up just 2 percent of mediators in major peace processes from 1990 to 2017.
To stop violence and foster sustainable peace, global and regional efforts in support of peace must be linked to the locally rooted peace and mediation efforts of community peacemakers, particularly women. Local actors often have significant insight into conflict drivers and conflict solutions. In peace efforts at all levels, from the grassroots to the international, women in particular often have different experiences of conflict and different insights. They also often bring solutions and are able to foster trust and identify the steps needed to ensure the inclusion of all affected—women, men, boys, and girls. But these women often have even less access to formal processes than their male colleagues, as the evidence reflects.
The importance of civil society in sustaining peace is also evident in empirical research. Since the introduction of UN Security Council 1325 in 2000, the women, peace, and security agenda has developed through a collaboration among civil society, the UN, and governments. While the paradigm has been slow to shift, there is growing momentum and support for the full participation of women peacebuilders as mediators and negotiators in peace processes.
For questions, contact: Beatrice Agyarkoh, agyarkoh@ipinst.org or 212-225-9628