MASERU — The International Women's Peace Group (IWPG) officially launched its Women's Peace Leadership and Partnership Network in Lesotho on Monday, calling for stronger collaboration among women-led organisations to promote sustainable peace and national development.

Speaking during the Women's Peace Leadership Forum in Maseru, IWPG Southern Africa Regional Coordinator, Ms. Faith Van Eyk said lasting peace can only be achieved through a combination of government action and grassroots community participation.

She explained that IWPG promotes a 'two-track' approach to peacebuilding, which combines legal and policy reforms at national level with community-based initiatives led by women.

Ms. Van Eyk said the organisation, which holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), works in 122 countries and serves as a bridge between local communities and international policy platforms.

She said sustainable peace requires both institutional support through legislation and peace education, as well as transformation within families and communities.

Addressing delegates, the Chairperson of Lesotho Women in Dialogue, Mrs. 'Mats'epo Ramakoae said the launch marks an important step towards recognising the role women have long played in resolving conflicts and strengthening communities.

She said women have traditionally served as peacebuilders in villages, but their contributions have often gone unrecognised and unsupported.

Mrs. Ramakoae urged organisations to unite under a common vision of peace and development while maintaining their individual mandates, adding that greater investment is needed to support women's peacebuilding initiatives.

She also stressed that peace is closely linked to environmental stability and economic wellbeing, noting that communities cannot thrive without a peaceful environment.

Meanwhile, IWPG Lesotho Founding Member Mrs. Malineo Mots'epe said the peace movement was introduced to Lesotho in 2019 and has since expanded to all 10 districts of the country.

She said the organisation continues to promote peace through community outreach, leadership training and children's peace art competitions aimed at instilling a culture of peace from an early age.

Mrs. Mots'epe added that the organisation enjoys the support of Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso and maintains strong partnerships with IWPG headquarters in the Republic of Korea and other regional peace networks.

The forum concluded with a call for women, civil society organisations and development partners to work collaboratively in advancing peace, dialogue and sustainable development across Lesotho.