A delegation comprised of 13 women mediators (old and young) from Burundi, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Rwanda and South Sudan paid a courtesy visit to the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) agencies, among others, from 25^th to 28^th July 2023 in Addis Ababa-Ethiopia, where they sought collaborative ways of active engagement in order to elevate  the voice and agency of women of faith at policy discussions on women, youth, peace and security especially on conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding including mediation and peace processes at various levels. In their visit to the AU, the delegation was received by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), who assured them of meaningful collaboration. https://www.peaceau.org/uploads/african-union-commission-welcomes-women-mediators-from-east-and-west-africa-.pdf

During the four day visit, the women mediators also met key stakeholders including: Head  of AGA- APSA Synergy (Team)  at AU PAPS GCP- APSA ; AU PAPS CMD, FemWise Africa, Panel of the Wise (PANWISE); WGYDD; the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General to the Horn of Africa, Country Representative UN Women; UN Women Liaison Office to the AU ; OSE- WPS Chief of Staff.  Others include: Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Liaison Office to the AU; Head of Mission to Ethiopia, The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Mission to Ethiopia, Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Permanent Representative to the AU ; Deputy Head of Mission/ Deputy Permanent Representative, Norwegian Mission to the AU  and the Norwegian Ambassador, and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Liaison Office to the AU.

The women mediators also shared their experiences and contributions at various levels on women in conflict analysis; peace mediation and negotiation skills; and the various solidarity mission engagements in West Africa, Great Lakes and Horn of Africa as well as their success and challenges. The visit provided space for the women to share advocacy messages with a focus on protection of women, children and vulnerable people in violent conflicts, and the participation of women and young people in peace processes and decision makings in line with the UNSCR1325, UNSCR2250; and Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

The advocacy visit was jointly organized by FECCLAHA, NCA-RPP and IPHRD to provide strategic forums for women mediators to interact with relevant influential stakeholders within AU, IGAD and AU Femwise Africa among others; to provide women with spaces for exposure, learning and networking; and to know the engagements of agencies such as AU and other key agencies on matters conflict in East Africa and West Africa and the place of women and as such enabling them to identify entry points for engagement.

This follows a learning and exchange forum by women mediators from Mali and East Africa (Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo, Somalia and South Sudan) held in Mali, in October 2022 which brought together a total of 26 women from the East Africa and Mali and resolved to, among others, to create a “women’s advocacy network” of African women mediators targeting responsible authorities at regional and continental levels.