WANEP

Presentation of Preliminary Findings on Gender Based Violence and Mediation in West Africa –
A Case Study of Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire

27-28 September, 2012

ECOWAS, ASOKORO – ABUJA

Since 2011 and with support from the Government of Finland, the Crises Management Initiative (CMI) and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) have been undertaking research on Gender-Based Violence as part of a broader project onGender-Based Violence and Mediation in West Africa.

The purpose of the project is to increase expertise on addressing gender-based violence in peace processes among local and international peace mediation teams in West Africa by producing “best practices” based on two pilot case studies (Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire), and by organizing thematic workshops and seminar for West African peace mediation practitioners.

WANEP and CMI have received tremendous support from the Directorate of Gender and Child Development, Youth/Sports, Civil Society, Employment and Drug Control of the ECOWAS Commission since the beginning of the project.

The purpose of the Meeting is to present the preliminary findings of the case studies to ECOWAS officials and civil society organizations with the objective of engaging ECOWAS with the project and initiate discussions about policy.

The meeting which is scheduled for 27-28 September 2012 at the ECOWAS Commission, Asokoro in Abuja will bring together the Commissioner of Peace and Security Affairs of ECOWAS, Directors and coordinators of various divisions on Peace and Security of ECOWAS, Minister Elizabeth Rehn, senior Advisor of CMI, UNWOMEN, the Director of IPCR among others.