ACCORD, as a founding organisation of Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa), was invited to participate at the “Regional Women Mediator Networks Meeting: Strengthening Global Connections for Inclusive Peacemaking” high-level event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 23 to 25 October 2018. The event placed special emphasis on galvanising women’s effective participation and influence in peace processes by building synergies among existing regional networks of women mediators and by increasing the visibility of these networks.
ACCORD’s General Manager: Business Development, Ms Pravina Makan-Lakha, was given a speaking opportunity at the high-level side event on “Enhancing Partnerships of Increased Women’s Participation and Influence in Peace Processes: Towards an Alliance of Regional Women Mediation Network” organised by the African Union (AU) and UN Women.
ACCORD’s participation at the event speaks to its Strategic Pillar 3 that looks to enhance the role of women in peace processes. Within ACCORD’s support from the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (Sida) to “Strengthen the Operationalization of the AU and Regional Economic Communities Mediation Support Units,” the event proved to be an opportunity to reflect on how to meaningfully include women and women’s issues into mediation interventions and the means to implement best practices and lessons learnt.
