Strengthening Women Insider Mediators in Non-violent Socio-Political Movements

The project seeks to increase the inclusion and enhance the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution. It specifically aims to identify support and use the contribution of women leaders in six nonviolent social movements to facilitate their participation as mediators in more formal peace processes. With GAC’s support the Berghof Foundation is helping to achieve this project’s goals. Project activities include: (1) conducting participatory action research to identify the needs capacities and opportunities of women leaders from six movements to serve as agents for peace; (2) providing these movement leaders with a cross-contextual peer network and more targeted coaching opportunities; and (3) connecting the movement leaders to the more formally recognized Women Peace and Security and mediation actors.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) increased skills knowledge and networks of women leaders of the selected movements to be more effective at resolving conflict and contributing to conflict de-escalation. It also seeks to implement more formal peace processes in their countries or communities; and (2) increase the inclusion and meaningful contribution of women from non-violent protest movements in several conflict resolution processes through training and advocacy.