Overall Objective

The key overall objective of the Programme is to quantitatively and qualitatively strengthen and consolidate existing mediation and mediation support capacity on the continent as well as build new mediation and mediation support capacity. This objective responds to the widely recognised scarcity of mediation skills at all levels. Consequently there is a need to rapidly and quantitatively increase the number of mediators and mediation process experts.

Initiatives

Towards the overall objective the Unit plans to implement various initiatives including Advance Training in Mediation for representatives of various African countries, and Mediation Seminars to bring together all trainees and other relevant stakeholders towards capturing lessons learned and sharing experiences, ideas, and insights.

Leading up the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, ACCORD recently hosted a high-level seminar on the role of women, peace and security in Africa. The seminar proposed measures to accelerate the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 in the context of the African Union (AU) Year of Peace and Security (YoPS), and the launch of the decade of the African Women 2010-2020.

The Seminar entitled “Resolution 1325 in 2020: Looking Forward…Looking Back”, hosted by ACCORD and the African Union Peace and Security Commission on 8-9 October 2010 in Durban, South Africa, affirmed the value of UN resolution 1325 as a tool for galvanizing the participation of women in peace processes, the protection of women and girls from sexual violence in conflict, and promoting the leadership role of women in the prevention of conflicts.

While acknowledging some progress towards implementation of resolution 1325 over the last ten years, the seminar noted a persisting gap between the aspiration of the resolution and the reality of women’s continued marginalization from formal peace processes, increased insecurity and high levels of violence against women and girls.

Graca Machel, Chairperson of ACCORD Board of Trustees, opened the event with a keynote address, followed by opening remarks from Amb GS Kudjoe, DDG Africa Multilateral (DIRCO) and Dr. Brigalia Bam, Member of the Panel of the Wise. Ms. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Director: Women, Gender and Development Directorate (AUC), and Ms Florence Butegwa (UNIFEM representative to AU) also addressed the opening.

A panel discussion on ‘Experiences in Peace Processes’ saw women from Kenya, Darfur, Liberia and Burundi share practical examples of the challenges and successes of women’s roles in peace processes and negotiations.

The Seminar complimented the many international initiatives currently underway on the tenth anniversary of UN Resolution 1325. The outcomes of the Seminar will be presented at the African Union launch of the Decade for African Women in Kenya during the second week of October 2010.

Overall Objective

The AU Mediation Support Capacity Project seeks to strengthen the mediation support capacity of the AU.

Project Partners

The Project is jointly implemented by the AU’s Conflict Management Division (AU CMD), ACCORD, and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), and funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

ACCORD’s Focus

ACCORD has overall responsibility for the capacity building and training component of the Project. The capacity building and training component of the Project aims to develop training curricula (including an AU mediation handbook) and training courses to be conducted for various categories of staff identified for AU mediation interventions. In addition, ACCORD is responsible for annually convening a working group of AU partners, the Training Support Group, interested in supporting mediation training with a view to coordinate the various capacity building initiatives underway.

Furthermore, in response to a request from the AU CMD, ACCORD is assisting the AU in the establishment of the mediation component of its Peace and Security Roster. The roster is expected to benefit and improve speed, transparency, homogeneity, accessibility and low maintenance costs of deploying a mediation team to a mission.

Please click on the thumbnails to view the gallery of images from the Resolution 1325 Seminar hosted by ACCORD and the African Union Peace & Security Commission from 8-9 September 2010: