The Advisory board for Women Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region – a coalition of continental and regional women leaders, women rights organizations, civil society organizations held its 13th Virtual Board Meeting on the 5th of May 2021.
The aim of the meeting was to consider how the board could further influence national and regional WPS-related policies, with a strong focus on women’s contribution to peacebuilding and their economic recovery. In this regard, the board meeting identified actions linked to Pillar I – ‘Peace, Security & Justice’, Objective 4: ‘Women, Youth, Peace & Security’ of the ‘UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes Region, within the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Special Envoy moderated a session in this event and charged the region to include more women in peacebuilding, mediation, peace processes, conflict prevention, management, and resolution of conflict. The Special Envoy further stated that statistics have shown that participation of women in peace processes makes a peace agreement 64% less likely to fail and the resultant effect is more durable and better implemented. In her intervention, she reiterated that post-conflict conditions increase the economic and social burdens of both women and men and in bringing an end to these sufferings, women’s inclusion in peace, stability, and economic recovery must be a top priority. Actions that will help influence policies were discussed as members of the board shared their experience and lessons learned across the region.
