IPI in partnership with the Berghof Foundation, cohosted a policy forum on “Building Bridges for Nonviolent Change: The Role of Women as Insider Mediators” onn October 23rd. This event was held the day before the UN Security Council open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) and focused on the vital need to increase women’s participation in formal mediation processes.

This policy forum exposed multiple stakeholders in New York to the crucial work of women as informal bridge-builders in conflict situations, and discussed strategies for including their expertise in formal mediation processes. At the event, the Berghof Foundation launched research reports and a policy brief on the role of women mediators in recent protests in Venezuela, Thailand, and Iraq. These reports offer specific and actionable recommendations for how international donors and practitioners can fulfill capacity building and support needs to empower these women to sustain and deepen their engagement, thereby expanding the potential for achieving peaceful change and conflict transformation.

Opening Remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO, International Peace Institute
H.E. Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security
H.E. Pascale Christine Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN
H.E. Arlene Tickner, Ambassador-At-Large for Gender Issues and Global Feminist Politics, Government of Colombia

Speakers:
Rachel Gasser, Senior Adviser, Negotiation and Mediation Support, Berghof Foundation
Isabella Picón, Activist and Researcher (Venezuela)
Nang Raw Zahkung, Peace Practitioner and Facilitator (Myanmar)
Tahani Abbas Ali Balalelsheib, Women Activist and Human Rights Defender (Sudan)
Sarah Taylor, Policy Specialist, Women, Peace and Security and Resilience, UN Women

Moderator:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of Women, Peace and Security, International Peace Institute