Description
The Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) network gathered in Reykjavík on 7 and 8 May 2017.
GEST and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs hosted the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) annual meeting in Reykjavík from 7 to 8 May. The 2017 NWM annual meeting was designed with a practical focus to discuss, debate, review and endorse operational mechanisms, roles and responsibilities, while providing a platform and space for network members to connect and get to know each other.
Many of the objectives of the meeting were endorsed such as a revised mission statement and objectives for the network. In addition, some concrete proposals were suggested on Nordic cooperation and knowledge-sharing activities for 2017–18.
Nordic Women Mediators members at the annual meeting in Iceland, May 2017. Credits: P. Mata/UNU-GEST
The Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) is a network of women from the five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - with professional expertise relevant to conflict mediation, peace-building and negotiations. They share a commitment to sustaining peace through promoting the inclusive and meaningful participation of women in all phases of peace processes. Promoting women in negotiations, mediation and all phases of peace-making is at the heart of the work of the NWM while the network also works towards strengthening Nordic women active involvement in international peace-making and mediation efforts locally and globally.
The membership of the network is comprised of Nordic women with diverse professional experiences, ranging from foreign affairs and international law to multilateral or regional organizations such as the UN, the EU and the OSCE as well as civil society. The members have rich expertise on a variety of issues relevant to all phases of peace processes, including mediation, ceasefire arrangements, constitutional reform, civil-military relations, international humanitarian law, human rights, communications and inclusive strategies.
Facilitating access and providing networking opportunities with mediating and peacebuilding actors globally, NWM is a collaborative forum and network, building on national women mediators’ networks in all of the five Nordic countries. The NWM network was launched in Oslo in November 2015.