Make Mothers Matter (Esperas)

Esperas is an association of 3 organisations from which Make Mothers Matter is one.

Make Mothers Matter is a Brussels-based international NGO established in 1947 at the UNESCO in Paris
and federates a network of associations in about 30 countries, which represents indirectly 20 million of
people. This NGO is an association with no political or religious affiliations and has a general
consultative status with the United Nations.

Esperas has the mission to be a megaphone for women working worldwide on
reconciliation and peace in a non-violent way. Esperas gives the perspective of women in a conflict area
more forum and reach. We see that women in conflict are often portrayed merely as victims, but women
also work actively on peace and reconciliation in many places. We believe that these voices should be
heard more often.

Wars and armed conflicts have a different impact on women and men. In order to put an end to the
difficult situation of women in armed conflicts, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on 31
October 2000, entitled Women, Peace and Security. This resolution aims to protect women and girls
against violence and to increase the participation of women in decision-making. Eighteen years later the
results are very poor. Women are involved in almost no conflict in peace negotiations and peacebuilding.
The numbers are poingant. Only 5% of the signatories to peace agreements are women and only 8% of
the observers in these negotiations are women.

Through a network of partners with ties to women in different conflict regions, Esperas acts as a
facilitator to enable individual or unified citizens to find their way to their voices. We are a contact
point for press and act proactively to seize current events and developments in conflict to give place to
the voice of women in reporting and public debate.
The voice of women in media is still underrepresented. It goes without saying that the figures with
regard to newsgathering in conflict regions are even more dramatic. Moreover, we see that women in
reporting on conflict areas are quickly put off as passive victims.
Explaining the voice of women in reporting on conflict areas is the first important step to involve women
as stakeholders in peace processes. The importance of their participation can hardly be overstated.
Peace processes involving women from the outset are 65 percent less likely to fail. Moreover, the
agreements reached are much more likely to last a long time.

Esperas is a contact point for press and acts proactively to seize current events and developments in
conflicts to give place to the voice of women in reporting and public debate.

We can be a communication partner in Security Research in H2020 programs.