African Union calls for equal participation of women in peace, adequate funding

Ambassador Liberata Mulamula of the African Union (AU) special envoy on women, peace and security has called for equal participation of women in peace and adequate funding.

She was speaking at the 25th silver anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security held in Windhoek from 16 to 18 October.

“We call for the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in peace processes across all mediation tracks, formal and informal, and throughout post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.

“Across the continent, women in frontline communities are already innovating in climate resilience, environmental protection, and conflict prevention,” she said.

However, Mulamula said their leadership will remain limited unless funding gaps are addressed.

She said the international community must recognise that women’s leadership and technical expertise have already contributed to practical solutions and more sustainable peace initiatives.

She said peace is more sustainable when women are fully engaged at every level of decision-making, from conflict prevention to post-conflict reconstruction.

“We cannot ignore these overlapping crises. But neither can we afford to sideline gender equality in our response. Women are not merely victims of these crises, they are architects of peace,” she said.

Mulamula said a strong focus on women’s inclusion and protection, along with full respect for international humanitarian and human rights law must be integrated throughout the entire lifecycle of the UN and AU peace operations.

“The legacy of UN Security Council resolution 1325 is not measured by the number of resolutions we pass but by the number of lives we change,” she said.

International relations and trade minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi said resolution 1325 was inspired by the bravery of African women who fought slavery and colonialism, and was born out of sweat and tears.

“While commemorating this Silver Jubilee, we are reminded today as we were then, that we cannot do this alone.

“Partnership, peer-learning and the exchange of experiences will strongly accentuate our ability to display agility in these very dynamic geopolitical times,” she said.

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