The Arria-formula meeting on Women, Peace and Security and Mediation took place at the UN Security Council this week to discuss ways of increasing the participation of women in global conflict prevention and mediation and strengthening the role of women in peace processes.  Co-chaired by Italy and the UK, the meeting also focused on the creation of a network of Mediterranean women mediators.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the potential of networks of women mediators to increase the number of women involved in peacemaking efforts and to encourage collaboration and coordination among existing networks of women mediators. Addressing the UN Security Council, the Italian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Benedetto Della Vedova announced that the foundational event of a new Mediterranean Women Mediators Network will be held in Rome in late 2017.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Mrs. Sigrid Kaag also attended the meeting. "We need to recognize that we can validate significantly more the competencies and skills that women, from their perspectives, bring to bear for peacebuilding and peacekeeping,” the Special Coordinator said. Ms. Kaag also noted that in the Middle East “where there is plenty of talent, university graduates, formidable women leaders who stand for principles, issues of human rights and transformation of society, women are equally included in no uncertain terms."

The Global Study on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security has reaffirmed the critical contribution of women’s meaningful participation to the success and sustainability of peace and security initiatives.