The Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks was launched in New York in 2019 at the High-Level Opening Week of the United Nations General Assembly 74, as a cooperation between five Regional Women Mediator Networks: FemWise-Africa, the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, the Nordic Women Mediators, the Arab Women Mediators Network and the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth.

On October 8, 2020, the Global Alliance celebrated the first anniversary of this landmark achievement and the 20th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. The High-Level Opening Event gathered Women Mediator Network (WMNs) members, key partners, academics and policymakers. The panels focused on the past implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the work and achievements of the Regional Women Mediator Networks.

Panellists reiterated the added value of WMNs, highlighted key achievements of Networks, shared best practices on the importance of women in mediation processes, and discussed key barriers and challenges facing women mediators that are still to be overcome. The panels also reflected on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on local women’s organisations in conflict areas while also highlighting their powerful role as responders on the frontlines. Finally it offered an opportunity to discuss future cooperation between international institutions, national governments and the Global Alliance in moving forward the implementation of the WPS agenda.

Between 12-21 October 2020, the Global Alliance will convene five Working Groups, open for members of the different regional networks only, to discuss key specific themes shaping the next 20 years of WPS agenda in mediation. The five working groups will tackle the following topics (1) Promoting Women’s Leadership in Peace and Security; (2) Women and Indigenous knowledge in Mediation and Conflict Resolution; (3) Impact of Covid-19 on local peacebuilding and local women peacebuilders; (4) The Protection of Women Mediators and Peacebuilders; and (5) Hybrid Mediation Models.

On October 22, 2020, the Global Alliance will host its High-level Closing Event (15:00-17:00 CET). The interactive virtual event will be an occasion to discuss insights from the working group sessions as well to collectively look forward to the work of WMNs and the implementation of the WPS agenda in mediation for the next 20 years.

The organisation of the event is led by the Global Alliance global contact group, in coordination with Women in International Security Italy (WIIS Italy) who serves as the Secretariat of the Global Alliance in 2020, and Crisis Management Initiative (CMI).

Watch the opening session
Watch the closing session