In May 2000, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a group of African women decided to come together to promote their  participation in the process of preventing and managing conflicts and restoring peace in Africa.

They realized that, being the principal victims of conflicts along with their children, they should have a say in the decisions made regarding these conflicts.

This meeting, whose theme was “encourage women’s participation in the peace process in West Africa, notably the Mano River basin,” was organized by the NGO Femmes Africa Solidarité and the African Women’s Committee for Peace and Development, with the support of the African Union, African Economic   Community, UN Development Program and the Nigerian government.

Founding Office of  MARWOPNET

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about the founding and 
history of MARWOPNET:

The meeting aimed to establish a sub-regional project for and by the women of the Mano River countries that would complement nationally-driven activities to consolidate peace, prevent future conflicts and restore the confidence necessary to establish a sustainable peace in the sub-region.

This led the women of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia to launch the Mano River Women’s Peace Network, whose first general assembly was held in Monrovia (Liberia) June 8, 2001, following the meeting of its managing council July 23 – 28, 2001 in Conakry.
 

“African women struggle for a seat at the peace table”

“Liberian women and the road to peace”