Breakout Session “Women and Peace-building in Conflict Zones in Africa”
Baku, April 26, AZERTAC
The session was moderated by Maged Abdelaziz, UN Under-Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations. The 2015 United Nations Report on “Women and Peace and Security” (WPS) specifically articulates the rising opportunities and challenges faced by women and girls in conflict zones. Key questions raised at the session were What is the role of the African Union in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions to advance women’s participation and protection?; What is the impact of women’s participation in peacemaking, constitution-making and national dialogues in Africa?; What innovations and good practices are available to promote the role and participation of women in mediation and peace-building processes?; How can governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other relevant stakeholders, promote and secure women’s participation in capacity-building and peacebuilding efforts?; What is the role of women in preventing and countering conflict and violent extremism?; What are the new contexts surrounding the women, peace and security agenda?; How to increase women’s voices in the agenda of building inclusive and peaceful societies?; How to increasing the gender-responsiveness of peace agreements?
Speakers at the session were Hijran Huseynova, Chairwoman of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic; Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman and Founder, Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development in Nigeria; Anna Fumarola, Project Manager, Women for Africa Foundation; Oumou Sall Seck, Mayor of the City of Goundam, Mali.
Areas of discussion included persistent implementation deficits in the women, peace and security agenda, including in: protection from human rights abuses and violations; opportunities for women to exercise leadership; resources provided to address their needs and which will help them exercise their rights; and the capacities and commitment of all actors involved in the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions to advance women’s participation and protection.
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