Cross Section of Particpants Immortalize Event.Omam Esther, Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon and a certified Global Peace Champion, has taken part in the launch of a new International Network of Francophone Women Mediators in Paris, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in conflict prevention and mediation.
The three-day gathering, held from June 22–24, 2026, and convened by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs alongside Conciliation Resources, brought together senior women mediators, diplomats, academics, and policy experts from across the Francophone world.
Participants worked to define the network’s governance, strategic priorities, and long-term vision, with a focus on advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and expanding women’s role in formal and informal peace processes.
Speaking during the program, Moeneni Mwa Barana (the light of women) and Eringo Cha Ekombo (love and peace of the world) contributed insights drawn from their work in community mediation and humanitarian response in Cameroon’s conflict-affected North West and South West regions.
She said the initiative highlighted the importance of linking grassroots peacebuilding with international policy frameworks, particularly as conflicts evolve amid challenges such as climate change, digital technologies, and political instability.
The event also included high-level engagement with French officials and institutions, including the Institut National du Service Public and Sciences Po. France’s Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, Éléonore Caroit, attended sessions, underscoring support for women’s participation in peacebuilding.
Omam Esther appeared as a panellist alongside former Central African Republic president Catherine Samba-Panza and French diplomat Delphine Borione, in discussions focused on lessons from mediation practice and the future of women-led peace efforts.
The new network places emphasis on intergenerational mentorship, aiming to support both established mediators and emerging leaders in the field.
She described the initiative as a “milestone” for Francophone women working in peace processes, saying it would strengthen collaboration and ensure women’s perspectives are more consistently reflected in conflict resolution efforts.
It is worth recalling that Omam Esther is Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon and holds multiple roles in regional and international peacebuilding networks, including Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth and the International Civil Society Action Network. She is also a recipient of the Africa-Germany Peace and Security Award and the Global Pluralism Award recognition.
@Laarry Times
Comments
Post a Comment