"In failing to include women and girls in peacemaking and peacebuilding processes, we are not only failing women and girls. We are failing the world" - Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, October 2016
The UK Government's campaign on women in mediation, building on the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, hopes to work across the Commonwealth to support women mediators.
In partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Wilton Park hosted a three day meeting to kick-start this initiative by bringing together a network of 66 experts, from 27 nations.
Hover over each nation to find out the number of participants!
The campaign, which will complement existing networks, is underpinned by a programme of capacity building to develop a talent pipeline of qualified women across the Commonwealth working in government, business and civil society.
"Women negotiators increase the chances of sustainable peace, and women peacekeepers decrease the chances of sexual exploitation and abuse." - UN Secretary-General António Guterres, message for International Women's Day 2017
The UK Government's campaign on women in mediation
At the event, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon reaffirmed the UK's commitment to involving more women in mediation, through the UK Government's campaign on women in mediation, building on the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. This seeks to increase the number of women mediating and meaningfully participating in peace processes.
You can see some highlights from his keynote address below:
Inspiring the next generation of mediators
We asked expert mediators to tell us their top tip for aspiring young mediators:
The participant's view
We asked our participants for the one change needed to ensure greater participation of women in mediation. Find out what they said:
