Women’s Mediator Networks: Reflections on an Emerging Global Trend

This chapter provides an introduction to the new global phenomenon of Women’s Mediator Networks, focusing on the legal basis for their creation and locating them within broader foreign policy objectives. Seeking to address the apparent invisibility of women in the field of mediation, several new Networks have been created with the aim of increasing the representation of women in high-level mediation and the visibility of women mediators at all levels. These Networks have been created as Foreign Policy tools, pursuant to commitments made in National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325. Given the relative infancy of the Networks and the absence of much scholarly scrutiny of their creation, the chapter provides an overview of the creation, aims and objectives of the Networks, and identifies some conceptual and practical challenges that the Networks must navigate if they are to be successful in increasing the representation of women in the peace mediation field.