The Mediterranean Women Mediators Network participated in the UN WPS Week in New York with two side-events:
- “Women-led Mediation Amidst Intersecting Climate and Humanitarian Crises: The Role of Women Mediator Networks”
The Mediterranean Women Mediators Network co-organized a side-event on “Women-led Mediation Amidst Intersecting Climate and Humanitarian Crises: The Role of Women Mediator Networks” on 23 October 2024, at UNWOMEN Headquarters (New York), during the United Nations WPS Week.
The event, promoted by the MWMN with OSCE, UNWOMEN, the Pacific Women Mediators Network (PWMN), FEMWISE and the Permanent Representation of Italy and the Kingdom of Tonga to the United Nations, highlighted the critical role of regional women mediators’ networks in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution.
Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Women Peace and Security agenda, this side-event has been the opportunity to share good practices and explore opportunities for regional women mediators’ networks within the Pact for the Future, emphasizing the necessity to build stronger regional capacities to address non-traditional security challenges. It has also highlighted how women-led mediation is responding to the complexities of climate change by spotlighting regional, national, and local examples of women mediators navigating and innovating across the current climate and humanitarian crises and proposing concrete strategies for enhancing accountability to women’s leadership in global and regional inter-governmental processes.
Bringing her experience, Anna Cervi, member of the MWMN from Italy, reminded that: “Any process that excludes women is bound to fail.” Cervi has also highlighted the critical role of women mediators in addressing conflicts amplified by climate change, showing how networks like the MWMN bring diverse expertise and backgrounds to the table. In order to support these realities, she suggested to provide flexible fundings, create spaces for young women mediators, dismantle structural barriers, educating men and promoting a cultural change.
- “Enhancing the Role of Women Mediators in Conflict Prevention and Resolution”
During the UN WPS Week 2024, the MWMN also promoted – together with other regional networks of women mediators and UNWOMEN, within the framework of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediators Network – a high-level panel on “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Conflict Prevention and Resolution” on 25 October 2024, at UNWOMEN Headquarters (New York).
The panel discussion has highlighted the distinct experiences of women who have actively participated as mediators in peace processes, including efforts in conflict prevention and resolution at various levels. The speakers reflected on a decade of lessons learned from the women mediator networks ahead of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of UNSCR 1325 (2000) in 2025.
The Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN) proudly participated in this insightful discussion with its members Irene Fellin (Italy) and Hajer Sharief (Libya), who shared our collective objectives:
– highlighting women mediators’ achievements and lessons learned;
– addressing barriers to women’s equal involvement in peace processes;
– building multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustained empowerment
– ensuring women have a seat at the peace table.
– reimagining and redesigning the peace table to produce more inclusive and sustainable peace outcomes.
– documenting and highlighting the innovative mediation approaches and methodologies that women-led groups are pioneering.
