By Malawi Exclusive
In a bid to increase women participation in evergrowing social , economic and political conflict in the country former President of Central Africa Republic who is chairperson of Femwise , Samba Panza has announced that his organisation will be opening its office in Malawi.
Speaking in Lilongwe on the side line of Women Conference , Panza said the opening of the office should be starting soon pending resolving few paper work.
Panza said the is need to follow all necessary steps such as working with other regional bodies such as SADC and the line Ministry.
The former President said the organisation has proved to be working well in resolving conflicts in the countries where they already started working. Panza said;
“FemWise-Africa will continue is mandate of professionalise the role of women in conflict preventive diplomacy as well as ensuring initiatjng women action that will catalyse and mainstream engagement of women in mediation in line with AU Agenda 2063 and SDGs.”
In her remarks, Malawi FemWise Coordinator Bishop Dr Mary Nkosi said he is happy to hear the commitment from the Former president herself who is also chairperson of the network.
Dr Nkosi said the work of opening Malawi office has stalled because up to now FemWise Secretariat has not written introduction letter to Malawi Government in this case Ministry of National Unity seeking their approval.
“We are currently waiting for a letter from your Secretariat and once that letter is in definitely the project will kick off.
As matter of background, Femwise Africa is a network of African women in conflict prevention and mediation established under African Union Assembly resolution Assembly/AU/Draft/Dec.21(XXIX) in 2017.
In December 2016, the Pan-African Network of the Wise (PANWISE) in collaboration with UN Women and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) convened the African Women Mediation Workshop on the theme “Silencing the Guns by 2020: Women’s Inclusion in Pre-Conflict Mediation, at the Peace table and in Social Cohesion” in Constantine,
Algeria. The workshop brought together over 80 women (and men) from 24 African countries involved in track 1, 2 and 3 mediation processes and conflict prevention and social cohesion
activities in Africa to share experiences, identify challenges and barriers to women’s active participation and discuss strategies to accelerate women’s agency in these efforts.
The focus and form of the network were discussed and recommendations developed to inform the finalization
of the modalities for the network.
On 13 March 2017, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) endorsed the modalities for the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, officially referred to as
FemWise-Africa.
Additional endorsement was given to FemWise-Africa by the UN Security
Council on 27 March 2017 in New York as part of an Arria Formula meeting.
Lastly, FemWiseAfrica was officially established through a decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State (AU
Summit) on 4 July 2017 (Assembly/AU/Draft/Dec.21(XXIX)).
The Network is located within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), as a subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise and the PANWISE.
Current Structure of FemWise-Africa include FemWise-Africa Steering Committee, chair Her Excellency Catherine Samba Panza, former President of the Central African Republic and Her Excellency Dr. Speciosa Wandira, the First African Woman Vice-President
(Uganda). The two gives strategic guidance to the Secretariat and provides reflection on the activities of the Network, reviews and approves membership accreditation.
Other accredited members include Graca Machel (Mozambique), Mme Brigalia Bam (South Africa), Marie-Madeline Kalala-Ngoy (DRC), Mary Chinery-Hesse (Ghana), Mme Hortense Nzet Biteghé (Gabon), Louisa Diogo (Mozambique), Elisabeth Pognon (Benin), Salimata Porquet (Cote d’Ivoire), Betty Bigombe (Uganda), Florence Mpaayei (Kenya), Bishop Mary Nkosi (Malawi), Liberata MulaMula (Tanzania), Snr Supretendant Nolliettie Chihana Chimala (Malawi) Ambassador Hawa Ahmed Youssouf (Djibouti), Amb. Josephine Mayuma Kala (DRC), Louise Baricako (Burundi), Stella Sabiitii (Uganda), Amb. Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Mrs. Hiroute Guebre Sellassie (Ethiopia), Amb Soad Shalaby (Egypt), Dr. Nana Pratt (Sierra Leone), Hon. Ms.Martha Karua from Kenya, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mable Nsefula and others from Malawi.
Other members are Fatima Askira (Nigeria), Ms. Emily Amony (Uganda),
Ms. Shuvai Busuman Nyoni (Kenya), Mireille Tushiminina(DRC), Irene Limo (Kenya) and Senior superintendent Tamanya Mfune from Malawi.
Madam Panza said currently there are 450 members withing the network.