Representatives from the Gambia government, civil society organizations and the media, working in the areas of gender, peace and security, were among sixty women who participated in a four-day experts meeting that marked the launch of a Women's Peace and Security Network in West Africa (NOPSWECO), in Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire, from the 25th to 28th of July 2009.

The Gambian delegates were drawn from the Women's Bureau, Ministry of Trade, Female Lawyers Association of The Gambia, the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) and the Gambia Radio and Television Services. A media release from a civil society organisation representative during to the international event states that the formation of the network was the outcome of a series of consultative meetings that started way back in October 2007, on initiative of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC).

The release adds that in order to contribute to the resolution of sustainable peace in the ECOWAS space and to consolidate the work of women's organization, the network sets itself the objective of coordinating and maximizing women's roles and initiative in the conflict prevention, peace and security keeping, post-conflict reconstruction operations and the promotion of human rights particularly for women and other vulnerable groups.

The Gambia being a member of the executive board secured one of the three special rapporteur positions in the executive board. The network's headquarters, according to the release, will be established in Cote d Ivoire. During the 4-day programme participants debated and adopted the statutes and five-year action plan prior to the launching.