Cameroonian peacebuilder and women's rights advocate, Omam Esther, has joined leading women mediators from across the Francophone world in Paris for the launch of the International Network of Francophone Women Mediators (Réseau International des Médiatrices Francophones), a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening women's leadership in mediation, conflict prevention, dialogue, and sustainable peace.
The three-day gathering, held from June 22 to 24, was convened by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in partnership with Conciliation Resources. It brought together experienced women mediators, peace practitioners, diplomats, academics, and policymakers to collectively shape the vision, governance structures, and strategic priorities of the newly established international platform.
The network seeks to create a stronger and more coordinated voice for women mediators across the Francophone space while advancing the global Women, Peace and Security agenda. Participants engaged in intensive discussions, collaborative workshops, and high-level exchanges focused on strengthening women's contributions to peace processes and conflict resolution worldwide.
A key highlight of the event was the participation of Éléonore Caroit, whose presence underscored France's commitment to promoting women's leadership in international cooperation and peacebuilding efforts.
The programme also benefited from engagement with representatives from the Institut National du Service Public and leading academic and policy institutions, including Sciences Po, reflecting the growing importance of connecting diplomacy, public policy, research, and practical peacebuilding experience.
As part of the public discussions, Omam Esther served as a panelist alongside distinguished women leaders and mediators, including Catherine Samba-Panza and Delphine Borione. The discussions explored lessons learned from mediation processes, the role of women in conflict prevention, and strategies for building inclusive and sustainable peace.
One of the most significant outcomes of the launch was the network's commitment to fostering intergenerational leadership. Beyond supporting established women mediators, the initiative aims to mentor and prepare the next generation of peacebuilders to navigate emerging challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, democratic backsliding, and evolving forms of conflict.
For Omam Esther, the gathering provided an important platform to bring grassroots perspectives from Cameroon into international conversations on peace and security.
“As a peacebuilder from Cameroon, I was proud to contribute experiences drawn from grassroots mediation, humanitarian action, women's leadership, and community-led peacebuilding efforts in the North West and South West Regions and beyond,” she noted.
Her participation highlighted the critical role local actors continue to play in preventing violence, facilitating dialogue, and strengthening social cohesion in conflict-affected communities.
The launch of the International Network of Francophone Women Mediators marks a significant milestone in efforts to ensure that women's voices, expertise, and leadership are fully integrated into peace processes across the Francophone world and beyond. The platform is expected to enhance collaboration among women mediators, strengthen their visibility, influence policy discussions, and create opportunities for learning and mutual support.
For Cameroon, Omam Esther's participation reflects the growing recognition of the country's women peacebuilders on the international stage. Through her work as Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon and her involvement in numerous regional and global peacebuilding networks, she has remained a leading advocate for inclusive dialogue, women's leadership, and community-driven peace initiatives.
As the Paris meeting concluded, participants reaffirmed a powerful message: women are not merely victims of conflict but essential actors in preventing violence, building trust, facilitating dialogue, and sustaining peace.
The creation of the International Network of Francophone Women Mediators represents a major step forward in strengthening solidarity, collaboration, and collective influence among women mediators worldwide. For Omam Esther and many others at the gathering, it is a reminder that lasting peace is built when diverse voices come together to create solutions, bridge divisions, and inspire hope for future generations.
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