The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), dedicated its 803^rd meeting, held on 19 October 2018, to an Open Session on the theme: “The Role of Women in Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding at Community Level”, in commemoration of the eighteenth anniversary of the adoption of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Council and participants took note of the opening statements made by the Chairperson of the PSC for the month of October 2018, H.E. Ambassador Makayat Safouesse and by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Smail Chergui, read on his behalf by the Acting Director for Peace and Security, Dr. Admore Mupoki Kambudzi. Council and participants also took note of the statement made by the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, Madame Bineta Diop, as well as the presentations made by the Chair Lady of the Somali National Women’s Organization, Ms. Batula Sheikh Ahamed Gabale; the President of the Maradi (Niger) Regional Chamber of Agriculture, Ms. Tchima Ibrahim and by the Chief Inspector Van-Dunem da Fonsech of Namibia Police Force ; as well as by the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission for Chad, Ms. Zaina Nyiramatama. They further took note of the statements made by the representatives of AU Member States, AU partners, other international institutions and organizations.

Council and participants recalled all previous decisions and pronouncements of Council, particularly, press statements [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCLXXII)]; [PSC/PR/BR.(DCCLVII)] and [PSC/PR/BR. (DCCXXVIII)]; as well as [PSC/PR/BR. (DCLIX)] adopted by Council at its open sessions held on 13 March 2018; on 16 May 2018; on 31 October 2017, and on 16 February 2017 respectively. They also recalled UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Council and participants acknowledged the significant contributions being made by women in the promotion of peace, security and stability of our continent. In this regard, they underlined the importance of including women in decision-making positions and in all stages of peace processes ranging from conflict prevention, management, resolution and in post-conflict reconstruction, development and peacebuilding. They paid tribute to all women peacekeepers in the continent for their sacrifices. They also commended all women leaders involved in promoting peace and security in their communities and underlined the need for scaling up the provision of capacity building support to women’s groups, particularly those working at the grassroots level.         

Council, furthermore, encouraged member states to support the establishment of women leader’s platforms at national levels.

Council and participants, noted with concern, that violation of women’s rights, including gender, culture, as well as religion-based discrimination, still persist in some parts. In this regard, they reiterated the need for enhanced efforts in education and gender sensitization campaigns, as well as effective communication strategies, in order to raise public awareness on theimportance of respecting and promoting women’s rights. Furthermore, they underscored that   peace building efforts can no longer be disassociated from programmes aimed at uplifting the livelihoods of communities as deprived communities provide bending to insecurity, violence and destruction

Council and participants, once again, underscored the importance of all Member States to develop national action plans for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which is the framework that provides for the participation of women in peace processes. Council and participants congratulated Cameroon and Mozambique for having recently adopted their national plans on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325, thus bringing to twenty-three, the number of Member States, to date, with national plans. Council and participants encouraged the other Member States, which have not yet done so, to also do the same without further delays.   In the same vein, they also underlined the importance of harnessing and further strengthening women’s national platforms and regional networks on peace and security.

Council also commended all those Member States which have already submitted their national reports on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and appealed to those which have not yet done so to also do the same. In this context, Council requested the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security to submit a consolidated report on all Member States for consideration by the Assembly of the Union. 

Council and participants congratulated Ethiopia for ensuring parity between men and women in the new Cabinet and urged other Member States to emulate Ethiopia’s example.

Council commended AU partners for their continued support to the African agenda for women, peace and security.

Council and participants commended the AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security for her relentless efforts in the continent. They underscored the importance of institutionalizing the Office of the Special Envoy and to provide the Office with all necessary resources in order to enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate.

Council agreed to remain seized of the matter. 

 

  

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