GENDER NEWS
A regional conference of the network of women peacebuilders and mediators of Western Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia is taking place in Vienna. The organizers of the conference are the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The chairperson of the board of the organization - "Women's Information Center" Elene Rusetskaya, the chairperson of the organization - Women Fund "Sokhumi" and the chairperson of the organization - IDP Women Association "Consent" Julia Kharashvili are attending the conference.
The conference aims to provide a platform where women can directly advocate for the effective implementation of WPS initiatives in their respective regions.
During the conference, GNWP will present concrete recommendations and an advocacy strategy based on research and consultations. Through constructive dialogue with national, regional and international policy makers, participants will outline concrete strategic actions to implement the recommendations. The purpose of the conference is also to strengthen cooperation and identify common priorities among women peacebuilders and mediators to solve challenges related to the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia. In addition, the platform is important for participants to establish partnerships and collaborations at the national, regional and international levels.
The concept of the event emphasizes that women-led peace networks play a critical role in advancing sustainable and inclusive peace through collective advocacy, knowledge sharing, and the empowerment of local civil society actors in communities affected by conflict and crisis. It is also noted that despite the support, these networks face various obstacles, including limited funding. These and other challenges create structural barriers to cooperation between civil society organizations and hinder the sustainability of peace networks.
It is also mentioned that the importance of networks is particularly relevant in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, where more than forty women's peace networks operate.
