I would like to welcome you all to this important workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to enhance capacities in conflict management and strengthen government/NGO partnership to contribute to lasting peace and sustainable development in Africa.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Guinea for hosting this workshop, in particular, Her Excellency, Madame Bruce Mariama Aribot, Minister of Social Affairs, Advancement of Women, and Children. We appreciate the opportunity to benefit from the Guinean experience. I would like to thank Mr. Kaba Mory, State Secretary for International Cooperation who is here with us to make a presentation on behalf of His Excellency, Mr. François Fall, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

My special thanks go to Ms. Saran Daraba, President of the Mano River Women Peace Network, for her tireless efforts in promoting peace in the Mano River sub-region, and suggesting that the workshop to take place in Guinea. I would also like to thank Ms. Lazarus and Dr. Anafu of the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) for their valuable contributions to the workshop.

Finally, my sincere appreciation goes to Mr. Adama Toe, Deputy Resident Representative for his collaboration in the preparation and organization of the workshop.

Allow me to touch briefly on the background of this workshop. The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) is working to support the enhancement of the role and capacity of women in peace building in Africa. As a first step, DAW and the African Centre for Women of ECA jointly organized a regional consultation meeting in April 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in close collaboration with the African Women's Committee on Peace and Development (AWCPD), and with the participation of the Organization for African Unity (now African Union (AU)), the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), the Department of Peace-Keeping Operations (DPKO), and government officials and NGO leaderships from thirteen African countries.

The consultation aimed to review the current situation regarding women's participation in peace building as well as identify areas where women's role needs to be strengthened. This consultation identified six priority areas:

1. Launching and supporting a women's peace network in the Great Lakes Region;
2. Training women in political skills, including communication, mediation and negotiation;
3. Training trainers in conflict resolution and in assisting women in exercising their human rights;
4. Building support for alliances between grassroots, national, regional and international women's groups;
5. Supporting training in stress and trauma healing and counselling; and
6. Training NGOs in early warning methods.

To address some of the capacity building needs identified in the consultation meeting, DAW organized, under the same project, a training workshop on "Conflict Management for Women" in close collaboration with the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) of the University of Cape Town, in October 2001. Building on the outcomes of the Cape Town workshop, this initiative in Guinea aims to further enhance the capacity of women in mediation and negotiation, and other skills related to conflict resolution and peace negotiation. Providing such training to women ensures that they are better equipped to become equal partners in the overall peace process.

In the consultation in Addis Ababa in April 2001, the Mano River Women Peace Network (MARWOPNET) was identified as an excellent initiative, which could be replicated in other regions/sub-regions. The work of the MARWOPNET clearly illustrates the importance of collaboration between neighboring countries, and the value of establishing sub-regional mechanisms to promote peace and prevent recurrence of conflicts. We continue to have much to learn from the experiences of MARWOPNET.

The historic Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) requested the Secretary-General to prepare a study on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building and the gender dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution. This study was prepared by the Inter-agency Task Force on Women, Peace and Security, coordinated by the Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. On the basis of the study, a Secretary-General's report on women, peace and security has been prepared which will be discussed in an open meeting in the Security Council on 25 October 2002.

The main conclusion of the Secretary-General's study is that sustainable peace and lasting security cannot be achieved without women's empowerment and full involvement. Its findings highlight the importance of the international legal framework and of attention to violations of the human rights of women and girls. It unequivocally demonstrates that women do make a difference when it comes to peace and security.

The study highlights that, while many of the experiences of women and girls in armed conflict are similar to those of men and boys, there are important differences. Existing inequalities between women and men and patterns of discrimination against women and girls tend to be exacerbated in armed conflict. Women and girls become particularly vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation, including rape, forced pregnancy, sexual slavery and trafficking. Women and children constitute the majority of the world's refugees and internally displaced persons. Even in refugee camps the vulnerability of women and girls may continue, particularly when there is a proliferation of small arms.

The study emphasizes, however, that women are not only victims. Women and girls are also active agents in conflict situations. In particular women play active roles in peace processes, striving to bring about reconciliation and security, before, during and after conflicts. The role of women's groups and networks in informal peace processes has, however, not always been sufficiently recognized and supported.

A particular constraint has been the lack of access to mechanisms or channels for bringing the priorities and recommendations of women's informal groups and networks into more formal processes. Although the understanding of the contributions women can and do make to peace-building and peace-keeping through informal processes is increasing, with few exceptions women are not present in formal peace negotiations. Where women are present, it is usually due to the concerted efforts of women's groups and networks. The study calls for greater representation of women in formal peace negotiations and incorporation of gender perspectives in conflict prevention activities and in negotiation of peace accords.

The study calls for all peace-building missions to recognize and support the informal peace initiatives of women's groups and networks. Information collection processes in support of conflict prevention, which target civil society and research institutes should identify and involve women's groups and networks as well as women's study groups.

To participate in the high level negotiations on peace agreements, women need to understand such processes and be equipped with negotiation and mediation skills. I hope this training workshop will provide a good opportunity to enhance your capacity in these areas, as well as support the building of formal and informal networks.

I wish to express my strong support to you in your capacity as peacemakers and peace- builders as well as my thanks for your presence here today. I am confident that the workshop will be a success, and wish you all a productive outcome.

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