The Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, officially referred to as FemWise-Africa, is a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise, one of the critical pillars of the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union (APSA).
The Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, officially referred to as FemWise-Africa, is a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise, one of the critical pillars of the Peace and Security Architecture of the African Union (APSA). FemWise-Africa was officially established through a decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State (AU Summit) on 4 July 2017.
The Network aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts by providing a platform for strategic advocacy, capacity-building and networking. The African Union in its commitment to women’s meaningful participation in the peace and security of the Continent took three landmark decisions that ultimately led to the establishment of FemWise-Africa: the 2010 Decision of the Peace and Security Council asking the Panel of the Wise to undertake a study on women in armed conflicts; the 2014 Decision of Ministers of Gender calling for the creation of an association of women in mediation; and the 13 March 2017 Decision of the AU Peace and Security Council endorsing the modalities for the Network. Further endorsement was given by the UN Security Council on 27 March 2017 as part of their Arria Formula meeting.