FemWise Africa

Goals

FemWise-Africa aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts in the context of the African Peace and Security Architecture. The Network provides a platform for advocacy, capacity building and networking to enhance the implementation of the commitments for women’s inclusion in peacemaking. Priorities:

Professionalizing the role of women in preventive diplomacy and mediation at Tracks 1, 2 and 3;
Ensuring a channel for women’s meaningful and effective participation in peace processes, including as heads of official high-level mediation missions;
Initiating women’s action to catalyse their engagement in mediation in line with the AU’s “Agenda 2063” and the SDGs;
Bridging the gap between Tracks 1, 2 and 3 and synergizing efforts towards inclusive peace processes with sustainable outcomes;
Strengthening the mediation interventions of FemWise with the facilitation of Quick Impact Projects and establishment of local and national peace infrastructures as foundations and launchpad for initiatives that will ensure that stability and development take root.

History

In 2010 the Panel of the Wise of the AU initiated a long-term study and action plan to eradicate sexual violence against women and children in armed conflicts. One of the key recommendation to the AU was to take action by establishing a formal network of women in mediation;

AU PSD with the support of UN Women commissioned a study to map existing networks and associations working on women’s participation in mediation;

In December 2016, the Pan-African Network of the Wise in collaboration with UN Women and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes convened the African Women Mediation Workshop on the theme “Silencing the Guns by 2020: Women’s Inclusion in Pre-Conflict Mediation, at the Peace table and in Social Cohesion”;

On 13 March 2017 the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed the modalities for the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, officially referred to as FemWise-Africa;

FemWise-Africa was officially established through a decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State (AU Summit) on 4 July 2017 (Assembly/AU/Draft/Dec.21(XXIX)).