A few days before the June 24 elections in Sierra Leone, a group of Eminent Women Peace Mediators has launched its 2023 Elections Situation Room on Tuesday 20 June 2023, courtesy of the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. The aim of this initiative is to monitor and diffuse any elections-related violence that could arise during the upcoming elections in their country.

The women involved in this initiative are well-known and respected for their work in elections conflict mediation and peacebuilding. Since 2018, Eminent Women Peace Mediators have been recognized for their commitments to preventing violence and promoting dialogue. Again, they are bringing their expertise to bear on the issue of election-related violence.

The Elections Situation Room is equipped with the latest technology and staffed by a team of experts in conflict analysis, security, and communications. The team would monitor the elections in real-time, using a tool-free line-225, social media, news reports, and other sources to track any incidents of violence or unrest.

In the event of a conflict situation, the Situation Room team would work to diffuse the tensions by reaching out to key stakeholders, including the Office of National Security (ONS), political parties, civil society organizations, and the media. They would use their conflict resolution and mediation skills to bring people together and find peaceful solutions to any disputes, particularly those boarding around female aspirants, women, and girls.