28 February, New York — Participants of the “Women’s Alliance for Peace”, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and Fundación Mujeres por África, convened for a special virtual meeting on 18 February. The event brought together 30 grassroots women leaders from Mali, the Central African Republic (CAR), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), who shared impact stories from the ground and identified areas to raise awareness, promote dialogue, and develop long-term solutions for sustainable peace.
Central to the discussions was the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in the Kivu region, with DRC women mediators sharing their insights. In addition to expressing solidarity and support, they emphasized the urgent need for greater global awareness and explored potential actions to address the ongoing violence and instability.
Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for UNAOC, reaffirmed support for the “special appeal for peace” made by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on 6 February amid the escalating crisis in eastern DRC. The Secretary General underscored the importance of dialogue and mediation to address the deepening conflict in the Kivu region, where widespread violence, mass displacement, and targeted attacks on civilians, including women and children, have been widely reported.
Since its establishment in 2005, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has been leveraging preventive diplomacy strategies in support of the United Nations agenda for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. Through its “Women’s Alliance for Peace” initiative, UNAOC, in partnership with Fundación Mujeres por África, has been providing capacity-building support to African women who are leading civil society organizations and are active in the field of mediation and conflict mitigation in their countries. This initiative aligns with the High Representative’s key priority areas, including promoting mediation, strengthening the role of women as peacemakers, and preventing and countering violent extremism.
The Under-Secretary-General underscored key areas requiring urgent action, including raising awareness to protect and also empower women as essential agents of conflict mitigation and peace mediation. He further highlighted the need to promote, support, and actively engage with local religious and civil society leaders to foster mutual understanding, reconciliation, and harmony among diverse ethnic and religious groups. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of countering hate speech and disinformation to prevent the spread of divisive narratives.
As the situation in eastern DRC calls for urgent and coordinated international action, UNAOC UNAOC remains dedicated to fostering intercultural dialogue, empowering youth and women, and promoting sustainable peace through its “Women’s Alliance for Peace” initiative.