Women faith-based mediators: Innovation through tradition?

Oct 18, 2022 | Berghof Foundation
Online
View Original

Women faith-based mediators play an important role in conflict transformation, mediation and dialogue processes around the world. However, the mostly secular international peacebuilding and mediation support structures have only recently discovered the potential of their oftentimes traditional roles for innovation in dialogue processes, as well as their specific needs and challenges. That is why tailor-made support to women faith-based mediators has been rather limited so far.

At the event, we will discuss with female mediation experts from around the world the specific innovation potential of women faith-based mediators, as well as the challenges and opportunities which come along with external support for faith-based mediation and dialogue practices.

Peacebuilding or mediation resources targeting women mediators, on the one hand, are mostly developed under a secular paradigm that tends to not recognise the role and contribution of religion in mediation processes. On the other hand, resources targeting faith-based mediators are often tailored to reach men due to the fact that donors favour supporting actors in institutionalised, often male dominated settings, and especially those in leadership roles. Some women might also feel poorly represented by the term “faith-based mediator” as they are immersed in an intrinsically religious environment. Therefore pointing out the religious basis of their work carries little to no significance to them. In addition, when female faith-based mediators receive external support, their role as women within society and as mediators can become politicised, and might itself turn into a subject of conflict.

Religious traditions also tend to be structurally male dominated. This is one of the challenges that female faith-based mediators face while they try to establish themselves in critical positions during mediation processes. But they are also presented with opportunities based on them being faith-based and women, such as a certain level of trust they often enjoy from their communities.