Today at the Farnesina, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, opened the founding conference of the “Mediterranean Women Mediators Network” (MWMN), one of the qualifying initiatives of Italy’s mandate within the UN Security Council (UNSC), organised by the MAECI in conjunction with the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and the WIIS Italia (Women in International Security).
“History, both past and present, is full of stories of great women mediators. And with the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network, we want to write many more,” said Foreign Minister Alfano in outlining the main aim of the meeting.
Following Minister Alfano’s opening remarks, the event – moderated by Hon. Lia Qaurtapelle, President of the Honorary Board of WIIS Italia – continued with comments by Ambassador Giansanti, by the Deputy Executive Director of UNWOMEN, Yannick Glemarec, by the Director of the IAI, Nathalie Tocci, and by the President of WIIS, Irene Fellin.
In addition to the 47 women mediators that started off the network, the event was attended by representatives of the Diplomatic Missions of the Countries of origin of the women mediators (Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Jordan, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, Palestine, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey), and members of the academic world, as well as experts on mediation and on the on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
After the opening session, the conference agenda will continue as follows:
A high-level round table open to the press (from 10:20 to 11:20 a.m.) with the participation of the representatives of other EU and OSCE women mediators networks (Catherine Samba Panza, former President of the Central African Republic on behalf of the African Women Mediators for Peace and Swedish diplomat Ann Dismorr on behalf of the Nordic Women Mediators Network), and of Judit Simanca Herrera, former member of the FARC guerrilla who took part in the peace negotiations in Colombia;
3 working groups (from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) will take place simultaneously. Participation is reserved to women mediators who, with the help of women facilitators, will have to agree on the text of the Declaration of Intent and Founding Principles of the Networks, their working method and a Roadmap for 2018-2019;
A presentation followed by a debate on the results of the three working groups (2:30 to 4:15 p.m.), moderated by IAI researcher Nicoletta Pirozzi;
A closing session (4:15 to 4:30 p.m.), with remarks by the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Amendola, followed by the adoption of the Declaration of Intent and Founding Principles of the Networks.
