ISTANBUL, JULY 3 – The second antenna of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network was launched in Turkey on 29-30 June 2019. The event was open to women mediators in Turkey, including the initiators and stakeholders of the MWMN/Turkey Antenna as well as women activists, experts and practitioners and the students of the Conflict Analysis and Resolution MA programme at Sabancı University.
On 19 January 2019, women mediators across Turkey came together to discuss the launch of the Turkish Antenna of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN). A number of topics were addressed during the initial meeting in January including the organisation of a workshop in Istanbul to debate issues concerning women’s role in mediation and peacebuildingprocesses so as to foster the creation of a local community of women mediators in Turkey, to launch the MWMN/Turkey Antenna and to start shaping its roadmap for action.
Stemming from that meeting, last week’s workshop was an opportunity for relevant stakeholders from Turkey, the broader Mediterranean region, Europe and elsewhere to share insights and debate issues concerning women’s role in mediation and peacebuilding processes. It also addressed broader issues in regard to mediation, such as the levels of mediation, preventive mediation, the significance of mediation from a gendered perspective in issues such as violence
The workshop was supported by the European Union’s Sivil Düşün program. The Italian Ambassador to Turkey, Massimo Gaiani, Francesca Tardioli, from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Italy’s Irene Fellin, from IAI and WIIS Italy, attended the launch.
The MWMN was established in 2017 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) and Women in International Security Italy (WIIS) in the framework of Italy’s mandate as non-permanent member of the Security Council. A key component of Italy’s commitment was to strengthen the role of women as drivers of peace across the whole conflict cycle. The network was one of the flagship initiatives of the Italian mandate, combining Italy’s role in the Mediterranean area, its commitment to the peaceful resolution of conflicts and to the promotion of gender equality policies. The establishment of the MWNM is also included in Italy’s III National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the 2016-2019 period. The first MWMN antenna was launched last May in Cyprus. (@OnuItalia)
