News

African Women Solidarity Mission to Kenya

5th August 2022

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) has deployed a solidarity mission to Kenya from 3 to 15 August 2022, to support efforts by Kenyan women, promote their participation in leadership and amplify their voices in conflict prevention for peaceful democratic elections.

The mission will be engaging with various stakeholders including: the Kenya Independent Election and Boundaries Commission, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Political Parties, UN agencies and women rights organizations to understand the electoral context and initiatives for peaceful elections.

The mission is in line with AWLN objectives to enhance the leadership of African women in the transformation of the continent, in line with the agenda 2063 and the Global Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

The mission is supported by the office of the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security and the United Nations Office to the African Union.
Source - AUC: https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20220805/african-women-solidarity-missio...

Perpetrators of Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict Must Be Brought to Justice, Security Council Delegates Demanded13th April 2022

‘Make Accountability Inevitable’, Special Representative Insists as Nobel Laureate, Civil Society Defenders Denounce Years of Abject Failure

With conflicts proliferating and the world’s social fabric increasingly under strain, the use of sexual violence as a tool of power and dominance is also on the rise, experts warned the Security Council today, as delegates from around the world considered the current status of “war’s oldest, most silenced and least-condemned crime”.

During the open debate, the 15-member Council — alongside dozens of representatives from the broader United Nations membership — considered the latest annual report of the Secretary-General on conflict-related sexual violence (document S/2022/272). Focusing on issues of accountability, prevention and deterrence, they shared national experiences and explored recent developments in international law, including judgments recently handed down against perpetrators in cases under the principle of universal jurisdiction. They also heard passionate testimony from experts, survivors and civil society activists, who briefed the Council at the meeting’s outset.
Get the full story here: https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14860.doc.htm

Securing Women’s Rights Vital to Creating ‘More Peaceful Future, Liveable Planet’, Secretary-General Tells Security Council...

15th June 2022

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council open debate on women, peace and security, in New York today:

Gender equality offers a path to sustainable peace and conflict prevention, and yet we are moving in the opposite direction.

Today’s conflicts are amplifying gender inequality, poverty, climate disruptions and other forms of inequality.

Women and girls are affected differently and disproportionately by the violence, and by the long-term social and economic impacts of these cascading crises.

Millions of girls are out of school, with no prospect of training, a job, or financial independence. Rising numbers of women and girls are suffering from violence in the home.

In some countries, extremists and military actors have taken power by force, cancelling previous commitments on gender equality and persecuting women for simply going about their daily lives.

Get the Full Story Here: https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21322.doc.htm

With Conflicts Destroying Hard-Won Gains, Regional Organizations Must Include Women in Peace Talks, Political Negotiations,...

15th June 2022
With conflicts and military takeovers wiping out gains on women's rights, and with the safety and prospects of women and girls on the ground and in political and economic spheres being driven backwards, regional organizations have an important role to play in promoting women's participation in peace and other decision-making processes, almost 60 speakers told the Security Council today in a ministerial-level open debate on women, peace and security.
Get the full Story here: https://press.un.org/en/2022/sc14932.doc.htm

Women’s Economic Empowerment Would Yield Huge Dividends for Peacebuilding Efforts... 8th March 2022

Women’s Economic Empowerment Would Yield Huge Dividends for Peacebuilding Efforts, Speakers Tell Security Council, Urging Greater Action to End Gender Barriers
Equal economic empowerment between the sexes would yield huge dividends for peacebuilding efforts, the top United Nations official for the empowerment of women told the Security Council today, as she and other experts highlighted the need for increased international efforts on meaningful inclusion, regardless of gender.
Source: https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14825.doc.htm

Prospects for Women Peacebuilders Vastly Worse than before Pandemic as Spoilers Ramp Up Action Aimed at Silencing Their Voices..

18th January 2022

Civil Society Representatives Describe Reprisals against Individuals Who Brief 15-Member Organ, as Delegates Present Ways for United Nations Corrective Action

Despite best efforts to ensure that peace is built by and for women, the prospects for their participation in the very negotiations intended to secure their future are “vastly worse” than before the pandemic, the High Commissioner for Human Rights told the Security Council today, as she and other experts warned of an insidious uptick in a host of actions by spoilers aimed at silencing their voices.

Source: https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sc14768.doc.htm

ECOWAS AND UNOAU JOINTLY COMMEMORATE UNSCR 1325 ANNIVERSARY on 21st Dec. 2020

ECOWAS AND UNOAU JOINTLY COMMEMORATE UNSCR 1325 ANNIVERSARY on 21st Dec. 2020

On 21st December 2020, UNOAU and the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) jointly organized a one-day virtual event as part of the series of events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325. The theme: “Looking Backward, Re-strategizing for the Future”, was intended to provide the opportunity to not only take stock of the progress the region has made in implementing the WPS agenda but also to critically review and identify gaps in the implementation, challenges and chart concrete actions building on lessons learnt. The event was funded through the WPS project in UNOAU supported by the Government of Sweden. Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/ecowas-and-unoau-jointly-commemorate-unscr-1325-anniversary

 

 

African women dialogue across generations, August 2019

African women dialogue across generations, August 2019

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) held its first intergenerational retreat in Nairobi, Kenya, from 16-18 August 2019. This intergenerational retreat was organized as part of AWLN’s pledge to move forward the African Union’s “One Million by 2021 Initiative” targeting African Youth.

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/african-women-dialogue-across-generations

 

Senior Female Police Commanders preliminary course begins in Addis Ababa, 4th - 8th December 2017

Senior Female Police Commanders preliminary course begins in Addis Ababa, 4th - 8th December 2017

Fifty senior female police officers met in Addis Ababa for a first of its kind preparatory course that would build a fast-track pipeline for the nominations of women to advance in policing at a leadership level. This course aimed at preparing the female commanders for recruitment processes in senior-level police positions in peace support operations at the United Nations and the African Union. 

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/senior-female-police-commanders-preliminary-course-begins-addis-ababa

 

 

United Nations Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, 21st October 2021

Secretary-General António Guterres at United Nations Security Council Open Debate  on Women, Peace and Security October 2021. Source: UN Media

Uptick in Military Coups, Armaments Race Rapidly Setting Back Clock on Women’s Rights, Secretary-General Warns Security Council, at Start of Day-Long Debate

Source: https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14672.doc.htm

 

Women, Peace and Security: The Agenda at 20 - United Nations Security Council Report

Women, Peace and Security: The Agenda at 20 - United Nations Security Council Report

This is the sixth research report by Security Council Report (SCR) dedicated to the women, peace and security agenda. This report reviews the period since SCR’s last research report, and covers in detail developments during the three years from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019, while also making some general comments on events in the first months of 2020. Ahead of the 20th anniversary of resolution 1325, the inaugural resolution on women, peace and security in 2000, this report examines whether the agenda is regressing, progressing or being maintained.

Source: https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/research-reports/women-peace-and-security-the-agenda-at-20.php

 

 

UN Gender Guidelines on Mediation officially launched during FemWise-Africa Steering Committee meeting in Addis Ababa, 2017

UN Gender Guidelines on Mediation officially launched during FemWise-Africa Steering Committee meeting in Addis Ababa, 2017

October 5th to 6th 2017, the network of African women in conflict prevention and peace mediation (FEMWISE-AFRICA) held the inaugural meeting of its steering committee with the participation of Ms. Teresa Whitfield, DPA Director of Policy and Mediation. UNOAU and UN Women also attended this meeting. FemWise is co-chaired by Panel of the Wise member, Dr. Speciosa Wandira and Ms. Catherine Samba Panza, former President of the Central African Republic. The meeting marked the creation of formal advocacy, capacity and partnership-building platform of African women mediators mandated to help tackle crises on the continent and promote the role of women in conflict and post-conflict settings both at leadership and grassroots levels. As part of the meeting, UN Guidance on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Strategies was launched by Ms. Teresa, and the two FemWise Co-Chairs.

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/un-gender-guidelines-mediation-officially-launched-during-femwise-africa-steering-committee-meeting

Statement of H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat Chairperson of the African Union Commission on International Women's Day 8 March 2022

Statement of H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat Chairperson of the African Union Commission on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, 8th March 2022.
Source: https://au.int/pt/speeches/20220308/statement-he-mr-moussa-faki-mahamat-...

VIRTUAL HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON ADVANCING THE WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY (WPS) AGENDA

VIRTUAL HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON ADVANCING THE WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY (WPS) AGENDA: POLITICAL LEADERSHIP, PARTNERSHIPS AND CONCRETE ACTION BEYOND 2020

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) hosted a two-day High-Level Dialogue (HLD) to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda. Under the theme, ‘Advancing the WPS Agenda: Political Leadership, Partnerships and Concrete Action Beyond 2020’, the HLD was held virtually on 30 November and 1 December 2020, and was organized in partnership with Sweden and the Kingdom of Norway.

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/virtual-high-level-dialogue-advancing-women-peace-and-security-wps-agenda-political-leadership

 

 

Remarks by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh on the Role of Women in Peacemaking and Peacebuilding

Remarks by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh on the Role of Women in Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in Africa, March 8, 2019.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOAU, Ms. Hanna Tetteh delivered a keynote address at the 2019 International Women's Day briefing organized by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies ahead of an interactive session.

/shestandsforpeace/sites/www.un.org.shestandsforpeace/files/srsg_tetteh_remarks_ipss_briefing_international_womens_day_2019_0_0.pdf

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/remarks-srsg-tetteh-role-women-peacemaking-and-peacebuilding-africa-0

 

 

 

UN GENDER CLUSTER CONSULTS WITH AU GENDER DIRECTORATE ON CONTINENTAL GENDER STRATEGY, 2017

UN GENDER CLUSTER CONSULTS WITH AU GENDER DIRECTORATE ON CONTINENTAL GENDER STRATEGY,  2017

The UN Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Youth cluster convened for a consultative meeting with experts from the African Union Women, Gender and Development Directorate (WGDD) to deliberate on the latter's draft gender strategy which will serve as a continental policy document once completed. A core purpose of the meeting was for the Directorate to receive inputs from UN agencies, funds, and programs with UNOAU being one of the contributors.

Source: https://unoau.unmissions.org/un-gender-cluster-consults-au-gender-directorate-continental-gender-strategy