The Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched the Network of Women Mediators in Southern Africa on the 28th January 2025, with support of the European Union (EU), Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD). The EU co-sponsored the launch under the joint SADC-EU programme titled: Enhancing the Capability and Effectiveness of SADC’s Peace and Security Architecture (ECESPA).
The official launch of the Network of Women Mediators was performed by Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda, Former President of the Republic of Malawi, and a member of the SADC Panel of Elders.
The key objective of the launch was to present the Network to the wider regional stakeholders as a viable structure to support and strengthen mediation and peace-making processes in the SADC region.
H.E Dr. Banda underscored that whilst the region remains relatively stable, sporadic conflicts have resulted in the need to continually find ways and means to prevent and address conflicts, in and across Member States, through the SADC Mediation, Conflict Prevention and Preventive Diplomacy Structures.
Dr Banda highlighted that the Network creates an opportunity to promote meaningful participation of women in the leadership of peace processes, including in conflict prevention, resolution, management, post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding, and in line with the gender equality principle as enshrined in the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and other relevant instruments.
Ms. Lillian Matsika Takaendisa, Chief Director, Gender Policy Planning and Programme Management in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe, representing the SADC Chairperson, affirmed that the launch of the Network transcends mere inclusion, as it recognises that women's participation leads to more comprehensive and sustainable solutions in conflict resolution.
She upheld that the launch symbolised progress in the way the SADC region aims to collectively address conflict through the increased inclusion of women in the mediation and peacebuilding spaces, from their immediate communities at national level, through to the regional structures forming part of the SADC peace and security architecture.
Ms. Takaendisa indicated that the network will serve as a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and resources, thereby enhancing the skills and capabilities of women mediators across the SADC region as well as establishing linkages with other networks such as FemWise-Africa, the continental network established by the African Union. Through this network, the SADC region will effectively incorporate women’s unique perspectives and experiences into peace and security processes, she said.
For his part, Professor Kula Ishmael Theletsane, Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Affairs, outlined that the SADC Regional Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) [2018–2030] was developed to serve as an overall guide for SADC to mainstream gender into its peace and security mechanisms and processes to address the specific challenges experienced by women and children.
He highlighted that the SADC Regional Strategy on WPS calls upon Member States to put in place measures to ensure equal representation and participation of both men and women in key decision-making positions in conflict resolution, peace building, and peacekeeping in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.
Professor Theletsane alluded that the Network of Women Mediators in Southern Africa is mandated to promote the meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts at national and regional levels to consolidate the SADC Peace and Security Architecture.
The Network is coordinated by the SADC Secretariat, complements the work of FemWise-Africa, which aims to strengthen the role of women in conflict prevention and mediation efforts in the context of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). FemWise-Africa coordinates the initiatives of the Network at continental level with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
The launch took place at the Capital on the Park Hotel in Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa, with the participation of Senior Government Officials from SADC, Civil Society representatives, and different development Partners.
