The NWM-Norway network is part of the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM). The mission of the Norwegian network is to enable women mediators’ and peacebuilders’ inclusion and meaningful participation in all phases of peace and dialogue processes to achieve sustainable peace.
The Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) is a regional network that was launched in Oslo in November 2015 and comprises of women from the five Nordic countries who have professional expertise relevant to conflict mediation, peacebuilding and negotiations. NWM is a collaborative forum, building on national women mediators' networks in all five Nordic Countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
NWM-Norway is a diverse national network of some 40 professional women with different backgrounds and expertise in mediation, from diplomats and lawyers to military and police officers to communications and logistics specialists. Members have either direct experience on mediation teams or directly supporting negotiations. The membership's diversity is also reflected in terms of their language competence, where they are in their careers, and which processes they have been involved in. Members are currently involved in a variety of processes including in the Philippines, Colombia, Syria and Iraq, as well as having experience from past processes in Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Israel-Palestine.
The objectives of the NWM-Norway are to:
1. Strengthen women's participation in peace processes at all levels by:
- amplifying the voices of women mediators and peacemakers in conflict affected areas;
- advocating for all peace processes to be inclusive;
- developing and fostering partnerships with other mediation and peacebuilding networks and organisations; and
- creating and supporting joint activities among members and with partners, as appropriate.
2. Strengthen Nordic women actively involved in international peace-making efforts by:
- enabling the sharing of experiences, knowledge and know-how among members, including through networking opportunities;
- promoting and supporting members in their functions, as well as drawing on members' expertise across networks; and
- facilitating access and providing networking opportunities with mediating and peacebuilding actors globally.
- Stine Aspevik Bosheim, PRIO Centre on Gender, Peace and Security: stibos@prio.org
- Ingebjørg Finnbakk, NOREF: ingebjorg.finnbakk@noref.no
Annual Meeting of the Nordic Women Mediators in Reykjavik
The annual meeting of the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) takes place in Reykjavik from 17 – 19 November 2021. Members from all five Nordic networks come together for a three-day meeting to discuss approaches to including and strengthening women in mediation and peacebuilding efforts. The discussions draw on lessons from the recent events in Afghanistan and from new working methods applied during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Virtual Global Alliance Annual Meeting 2020
What is the role of regional women mediator networks in realizing the Women, Peace and Security agenda? What are the key trends and issues that will define the future of this agenda?
Annual meeting of Nordic Women Mediators successfully convened online
On 3-4 June 2020, the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) Network gathered for a virtual meeting on ‘Beyond the pandemic – a critical time for the meaningful inclusion of women in mediation and peace processes’. The meeting focused on how to move forward with the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in light of the Covid-19 crisis, with the aim to identify transformative approaches to peace mediation and peacebuilding, which put women’s leadership at the center.
First NWM-Norway Virtual Members’ Meeting Convened
On Friday 24 April, Nordic Women Mediators-Norway (NWM-Norway) had its first ever virtual members' meeting. The topic of the meeting was the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affects peace processes and women's inclusion in peace processes worldwide. 25 members attended the meeting, including several members living outside of Norway. The meeting was organised by the network's Steering Group and the PRIO GPS Centre director Torunn L. Tryggestad chaired the meeting.
Major General Kristin Lund Visits Mali and the Netherlands
In February, Major General Kristin Lund, Practitioner in Residence at PRIO, attended seminars in both Mali and the Netherlands. In 2014 Lund became the first woman Force Commander in UN history as the Force Commander of the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP). In 2017 Lund was appointed Head of Mission of the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in Jerusalem.
Launch of the Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks at UN Headquarters in New York
The Global Alliance of Regional Women Mediator Networks was launched on 26 September. The launch was a side event at the High-Level Opening Week of the United Nations General Assembly 74 (UNGA 74). Over fifty women from four regional women mediator networks, as well as government and UN officials attended the launch. The PRIO GPS Centre and NOREF, as operational partners of NWM-Norway, played a central role in the organisation of the launch as well as a network day for the members of the four regional networks of women mediators. PRIO also had a key role in contributing to a promo film made and a webpage set up for the Global Alliance.
Nordic Women Mediators-Norway meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs
This morning, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide met with representatives from the Nordic Women Mediators - Norway (NWM-Norway) network. At the meeting Eriksen Søreide received the official outcome document from the 2018 NWM Annual Meeting in Copenhagen, a letter addressed to all the five Nordic Ministers for Foreign Affairs.
Annual meeting of Nordic Women Mediators successfully convened in Oslo
On 9-10 May 2019 more than 50 members of the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) network convened in Oslo for a two-day annual meeting. In addition to the NWM members, seven prominent women from Afghanistan, Libya and Yemen were invited to provide insights into the status of women's engagement and influence in the peace processes in their respective countries.
Nordic Women Mediators Annual Meeting in Copenhagen
Members from all five national branches of the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM) network will convene in Copenhagen, Denmark for a two-day annual meeting of the regional network on 21-22 November.
Upcoming Regional Women Mediators Networks Meeting: Strengthening Global Connections for Inclusive Peacemaking
On 23-25 October, there will be a gathering of regional women mediator networks in New York. The meeting is organized as a collaborative effort between by Femwise-Africa, the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN), the Nordic Women Mediators (NWM), and the Women Meditators across the Commonwealth (WMC). It is hosted by the International Peace Institute (IPI).
Turning the Tables: Women’s multiple roles in peace processes
Women, Peace and Security in Mediation
Influence of Mediators on Peace Agreement Agendas
NWM Working Meeting in Iceland
NWM-Norway Workshop
Public Launch of the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network
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