Statement of the African Union at the Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, October 2016
Statement of the African Union
In the same context as this debate, last Thursday the African Union Commission held its annual open meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the status of women and children in conflict, under the theme “the role of the media in enhancing accountability on women, peace and security commitments in Africa”.
On the margins of the twenty-seventh African Union Summit, held in Kigali in July, the African Union launched the first report on the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda in Africa. That was primarily the result of consultative meetings with AU States members and regional economic communities that have developed national action plans for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000). So far, 19 countries and two regional economic communities in Africa have developed action plans.
The third effort involves mobilizing and supporting member States and regional economic communities to develop action plans on the women and peace and security agenda. The Republic of Namibia and the Southern African Development Community region are presently undergoing the process, with the support of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Statement of the African Union
The first entails establishing a network of African women mediators to contribute to the search for a peaceful resolution of conflicts on the continent and to support communities in their peacebuilding efforts.
The second area of focus deals with changing the narratives on women to recognize their role in peacebuilding, through mobilization of a network of journalists, reporters and bloggers who are committed to reporting in a gender-responsive manner on issues of women and peace and security — not just by telling stories of victimization but also those of women’s leadership and of women as positive agents for social change and economic transformation.
The fourth area entails launching a network of centres of excellence in various regions of the continent to work on women and peace and security issues, with a view to sustainable and broad strengthening of women’s capacities in peacebuilding, thus ensuring the availability of women’s expertise in that area.
In conclusion, I wish to reiterate the African Union Commission’s commitment and action towards the advancement of the women and peace and security agenda. An annual report will be submitted to the African Union Peace and Security Council, and subsequently shared with the United Nations Security Council. For the African Union Commission, the Africa we want is an Africa where all daughters and sons of the continent are equal, enjoy the same rights and obligations and participate equally in building a stable and just society. Women must be fully part and parcel of that endeavour and of Africa’s transformative agenda.
Statement of the African Union
The fifth action pertains to training military personnel on the rights of women, in line with the AU zero-tolerance policy on sexual and gender-based violence. Countries like Senegal have already embarked on such training.