The Turning Point for Women at the Peace Table: From Local Ceasefires to Global Initiatives

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When grassroots women in Mali speak, the world listens—and the number of bullets slowly gives way to the number of participants.

A New Wave of Female Mediators

Last February, the “Women’s Alliance for Peace”—a collaboration between UNAOC and Fundación Mujeres por África—gathered 30 female community leaders from Mali, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They exchanged strategies to sustain interethnic dialogue while overseeing local ceasefires and post-conflict reconciliation efforts.

In May 2025, UN Women reaffirmed: “There is no path to peace without first protecting women and girls.” This message echoed through the halls of the UN Security Council, where the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) agenda is now a key benchmark in member states’ resolutions.

Common Pledge: A Collective Commitment to Equal Representation

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Eight months ago, the UN launched the Common Pledge—a joint commitment from mediators, governments, and civil society to ensure full and meaningful participation of women at every stage of peace negotiations.

What does this look like in practice?

• A 30% quota of female mediators in official UN peace teams by 2026.

• Dedicated funding for training young negotiators, ensuring women’s voices in ceasefire talks are not merely symbolic.

• Accountability mechanisms—quarterly reports to the Security Council—requiring signatory countries to turn promises into concrete action.

Regional Network: Horn of Africa United

In the Horn of Africa, a dialogue project initiated by the Peace Agency has begun selecting prospective mediators from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan. Its short-term goal is to build a regional network of female mediators and identify cultural barriers that often exclude women from tribal negotiation spaces.

Changing the Narrative: From “Victims” to Peace Actors

For decades, global media has portrayed women mainly as victims of war. However, research by the Women, Peace & Security Network shows:


This narrative shift encourages donors to channel funds directly to grassroots women’s groups, allowing them to lead trauma rehabilitation, community reconciliation, and post-conflict economic recovery programs.

The Other Side of Participation: Technology & Digital Security

In the age of deepfakes, digital protection is as crucial as physical safety. In Odisha, India, the “Pink Zones” initiative integrates CCTV, digital reporting apps, and dedicated cyber patrols so women feel secure both on the streets and online.

This movement is especially relevant for female mediators: digital safety ensures they can coordinate across borders without fear of doxing or cyberattacks—frequent threats to peace activists.

The Role of the Private Sector: Small Steps, Big Impact

It’s not just international institutions stepping in—companies are also positioning themselves as enablers of peace. The online gaming platform Dewapoker, popular in Southeast Asia, recently launched the “Raise the Stake for Peace” program: an online charity tournament where proceeds go toward scholarships for young mediators from post-conflict communities.

In addition to providing funding, this campaign challenges the stereotype that the digital entertainment industry is indifferent to humanitarian issues. Curious about their CSR initiatives? You can See More on their official site.

Challenges & Hopes for the Future

Domestic Politics
Countries dealing with internal conflict often delay ratifying WPS roadmaps for the sake of short-term stability.

Sustainable Funding
Many mediator training programs end once their funding cycles close. A blended finance model—grants, impact investments, and support from private players like Dewapoker—is believed to offer a long-term solution.

Mediator Safety
From intimidation to threats of violence, both physical and digital security must be embedded in every peace mission mandate.

Despite all this, optimism remains strong. During the June 2025 Executive Session of UN Women, several countries pledged to increase WPS budgets by 40% within the next two years.

Why It Matters to All of Us

Economic Impact: World Bank projections show that post-conflict economies grow 2% faster when women are involved in reconstruction negotiations.
Social Stability: Communities that include women in reconciliation councils report a 25% drop in gender-based violence.

Long-Term Peace: Transitional justice that centers women’s experiences is more effective in breaking cycles of revenge between groups.

From UN corridors in New York to village halls in eastern Congo, women’s voices in peace processes are no longer a nice-to-have—they are a prerequisite for lasting agreements. When global initiatives like the Common Pledge are met with local ideas and supported by visionary private sectors—such as Dewapoker’s humanitarian campaigns—the hope for “inclusive peace” is no longer just a conference buzzword but a concrete roadmap toward a safer future for all.