What:

The African Union’s Pan-African Network of Women Mediators (FemWise-Africa) convenes its first ever General Assembly meeting in Constantine, Algeria, on the theme, “Silencing the Guns by 2020: Women Mediating and Promoting Cross Border Cooperation,” and also launches membership accreditations.

FemWise-Africa was established by a Decision of the 29^th Assembly of the Union, in July 2017, almost 17 years after the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related AU Instruments on Women, Peace and Security. FemWise-Africa is an entrenchment of the African Union’s efforts to mainstream once and for all, the participation of women in conflict prevention and mediation negotiations at all levels. It is located within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) as a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise and the Pan-African Network of the Wise (Panwise).

A year ago, on December 2016, the AU gathered 80 African women in Constantine to develop the modalities for the creation of FemWise-Africa. Since then an exceptionally rapid series of events and significant achievements have been recorded to support the operationalization of FemWise-Africa: the endorsement of the Peace and Security Council on 13 March 2017; the endorsement of the UN Security Council’s two weeks later on 27 March 2017 in New York, and most importantly, the official establishment of FemWise-Africa through a decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 4 July 2017, which records one of the fastest speed of operationalization of any AU instrument!

Since its formal establishment in July 2017, FemWise-Africa has inaugurated its Steering Committee in October 2017, comprised of leading African women. The 2017 General Assembly of FemWise-Africa in Constantine is, therefore, a logical follow up to the momentum already established to accelerate the full operationalization of FemWise-Africa.

When:

9:00 am GMT+1, 13 December 2017;

Where:

Constantine, Algeria;

Who:

It will bring together approximately 80 participants, including members of the AU Panel of the Wise and the Regional Economic Communities; selected AU Special Representatives and Envoys; mediation team officials for the peace processes in Colombia, Philippines, and Nepal; currently accredited members of FemWise-Africa, leading women who have held senior positions in their home countries or in international organizations, women working in border communities on cross-border cooperation; mediation experts, selected African academics, mediation-trained youth professionals; leading members of the Nordic Women Mediation Network; the Mediterranean Women Mediation Networks, women from Colombia, Philippines and SANGAT.

Why:

The General Assembly will therefore ensure that the discussions deliver the following major outcomes:

• Launch the membership accreditation process of 500 African women mediators to be completed by December 2018;
• Integrate border-related mediation and cooperation efforts in the action plan of FemWise-Africa on the basis of the discussions;
• Ensure that FemWise-Africa’s involvement in current conflict prevention and mediation efforts is systematized and addresses the needs of the members of the community (social option) which enriches political solutions at tracks 1 and 2;
• The constitutive elements for a women-centred Border-Disputes Facilitation Plan are agreed upon;
• Endorsement of the Peace stability and quick impact projects in vulnerable countries leading to improved social cohesion conditions operational in identified countries.
• In the margins of the General Assembly, Women mediators’ experiences from Africa, Colombia, Philippines and Nepal will be captured and documented (including visual stories);
• Organize a Book Launch in the margins of the meeting of an AU Book on the Journey and Institutionalisation of FemWise-Africa;

African Union (AU)

Peace and Security Department

Conflict Management Division

Tel. No. : +251-115-513 822

Fax: +251-115-519 321

E-mail: situationroom@africa-union.org or situationroom@ausitroom-psd.org