The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 772^nd meeting held on 16 May 2018, on the Continental Results Framework for Monitoring and Reporting on the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa, adopted the following decision:

 

Council:

1.    Takes note of the presentation made by the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Madame Bineta Diop on the Continental Results Framework for monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa. Council further takes note of the statements made by the representatives of Ethiopia, in its capacity as African Member of the UN Security Council (A3), United Nations (UN) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);

2.    Recalls its previous communiques and press statements, in particular press statement [PSC/PR/BR.1(CDLXXVI)] of its 476th meeting, held on 16 December 2014, in which Council urged the AU Commission, through the coordination of the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to formulate a Continental Results Framework to monitor the implementation by AU Member States and other relevant stakeholders of the various African and international instruments and other commitments on women, peace and security in Africa;

3.    Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and AU instruments on Women Peace and Security and commends all AU Member States that have already adopted National Action Plans (NAPs) to implement the resolution and encourages those that have not yet done so, to also do the same;

4.    Commends the emerging best practices by African states who are conducting impact assessments of their first-generation NAPs and using the lessons learnt to develop their second-generation NAPs and calls on all Member States to adopt this methodology, as well as sharing experiences. In this regard, Council requests the AU Commission, through the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, to continue sensitizing those countries that have not yet adopted a women, peace and security action plan on the need to do so and provide support in the development process;  

5.    Expresses deep concern over the fact that, despite the existence of well-articulated policies, strategies and action plans on women, peace and security, women and girls continue to bear the brunt of conflicts in Africa and to be victims of sexual violence and other forms of abuses. In this regards, Council condemns in the strongest terms possible, all forms of abuses on women and girls, and appeals to all Member States to take punitive measures against those violators of the rights of women and girls;

6.    Expresses its regret on the continued under representation of women in peace processes and calls on all Member States to deploy consistent efforts to ensure women participation in conflict prevention, mediation and in post conflict reconstruction at all levels, local, national and continental. Furthermore, Council stresses the importance of revitalizing the support to the women, peace and security agenda through vigorous policy measures and capacity building;

7.    Welcomes the validation of the Continental Results Framework for Monitoring and Reporting on Women Peace and Security Agenda in Africa by Member States and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), that have put already in place national and regional action plans, as a tool to enhance delivery by Member States and other stakeholders on commitments on Women, peace and security in Africa and in addressing issues of impunity;

8.    Notes the value added by the Continental Results Framework for Monitoring and Reporting on Women Peace and Security agenda in Africa by ensuring, systematic and focused monitoring through the use of common tools and parameter’s which will allow data comparability and reliability, hence contribute to accelerating the implementation of commitments by Member States and other stakeholders on women, peace and security in Africa;

9.    Decides to adopt the Continental Results Framework for Monitoring and Reporting on the Implementation of the Women Peace and Security agenda in Africa and congratulates the Special Envoy on women peace and security for the consultative and inclusive process in its development. Council recognizes the living nature of the Framework and underscores the need to continuously review it in order to respond to emerging challenges regarding women, peace and security needs;

10.    Calls on the AU Commission to ensure immediate implementation of the Continental Results Framework, under the coordination of the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security and in synergy with all departments and the RECs/RMs.  In this respect, Council requests the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to conduct sensitization of the member states on the Continental Results Framework and to take the necessary steps with regard to the accompanying tools;

11.    Reiterates its appeal to all AU Member States to strengthen the capacity of the Ministries in charge of Gender and Women’s Affairs through budget allocation and training so that they are able to effectively coordinate the work on women peace and security;

12.    Requests the AU Commission, through the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, to provide annual reports to the Council on the implementation of the Continental Results Framework on Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa;

13.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS