To mark the first anniversary since the launch of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks, representatives from the five Regional Networks (SEANWPNM joined later this year) virtually convened for the annual meeting to discuss key themes related to the next 20 years of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. This event took place from 8 to 22 October 2020. This year’s annual meeting, as manifested by its virtual nature, reflects the extraordinary times we live in. The COVID-19 global health pandemic has exacerbated existing gender gaps and gender-based violence, which has further accentuated the need for a global coordinated response to prevent any setbacks in the progress made to further the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The meeting also took place as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 marked the 20th anniversary of its adoption.
Reflecting the spirit of the Global Alliance, this event sought to invoke the principle of cooperation and develop synergies between the regional women mediator networks and other key actors to jointly address the challenges of the past 20 years and change the course of the next 20. The Global Alliance’s annual meeting serves as an important platform for reaching this objective.
Members of the networks jointly addressed thematic priorities through a series of virtual workshops, which resulted in a set of key insights and recommendations for the networks and policymakers to act upon. These suggestions reflect the need to systematically increase the participation and influence of women in peacebuilding and mediation efforts and further work for gender-sensitive peace agreements. External partners and colleagues of the Global Alliance additionally reflected upon these issues during the public opening and closing events of the annual meeting.
The organisation of the event was led by the Global Alliance global contact group, and with leadership by Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) and by Women in International Security Italy (WIIS Italy), which serves as the Secretariat of the Global Alliance for the year 2020/2021. WIIS Italy currently hosts the Secretariat of the Global Alliance with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy. The GA Secretariat is appointed on an annual rotation basis among the implementing partners.
The report of the Global Alliance Annual Meeting 2020 is available here.