Imagine a world where the unsung heroes holding societies together amid chaos are predominantly women—and now, picture Africa taking bold steps to amplify their voices. This compelling scenario is at the heart of Tunisia's display of regional leadership as the African Union convenes its 6th High-Level Africa Forum on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) in Tunis. It's a gathering that highlights not just progress, but the urgent need to address setbacks, especially 25 years after the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 set the stage for women's roles in fostering peace. But here's where it gets controversial: Is the world truly ready to move beyond talk and into real action, or are we trapped in a cycle of promises that fade into inaction?
Hosted under the theme 'Leveraging Multilateral Diplomacy to Reinforce Africa’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda in a Shifting Global Order,' the forum brought together high-ranking officials, ex-leaders, diplomats, and civil society advocates to dissect Africa's advancements and challenges in this vital area. At a time when wars, political turmoil, and dwindling spaces for public engagement are fracturing communities across the continent, the event aims to pave a more defined road for women's involvement in building lasting peace.
From the very start, the atmosphere was infused with inspiration thanks to a video message from African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. He honored the incredible women who are the glue keeping shattered societies intact throughout Africa. For instance, consider the women of Sudan, who tirelessly coordinate aid efforts in the midst of one of the planet's most brutal conflicts—think of mothers distributing food and medical supplies while dodging danger. Similarly, in the Great Lakes region, women endure repeated displacements and uncertainties, often becoming the backbone of refugee camps through their caregiving and community-building efforts. And in the Sahel, their everyday courage supports families and neighborhoods despite relentless threats from insecurity, such as banditry and armed groups disrupting daily life.
Youssouf's words touched on a profound, often overlooked reality: the most at-risk groups in Africa endure because women steadfastly prevent total societal breakdown. He emphasized that the African Union is committed to prioritizing real-world application over empty words. In the coming decade, the WPS agenda must focus on accountability—ensuring leaders are held responsible for their pledges—robust funding to support initiatives, and intentional strategies to integrate women into key positions within national and regional bodies. This means not just talking about equality, but actually assigning women to lead committees on defense, foreign policy, and emergency response, where their insights from the ground can make a difference.
To illustrate, he pointed to three key global trends converging to spark more effective measures: the worldwide momentum of the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence, a fresh dedication from the G20 to women's rights, and the African Union's new Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG). Yet, Youssouf cautioned that these commitments lose their power unless they lead to better safeguards for women and greater inclusion in peace and security discussions. For beginners in this topic, think of it like this: It's not enough to sign a treaty; you need to build training programs for female mediators or create hotlines for reporting abuse to truly protect vulnerable populations.
This sentiment resonated deeply with H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the AU Chairperson’s Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security. She stressed that Africa's strides in WPS have always thrived on unity rather than division. Mulamula warned against governments backsliding on past achievements, especially in today's intricate security landscape, where issues like armed clashes, terrorism, resource scarcity, and erosion of democratic norms demand unwavering adherence to agreed-upon duties. Imagine, for example, how a country might promise to include women in peace talks but then exclude them from negotiating tables—it's a gap that undermines progress.
She also spotlighted the sluggish adoption of CEVAWG, which has been ratified by just seven nations so far. This treaty is designed as a legally enforceable tool to combat violence against women and girls, covering everything from domestic abuse to harmful cultural practices. Without widespread endorsement, African nations lean on patchwork national laws that fail to shield millions. And this is the part most people miss: Without broad ratification, it's like trying to fix a leaky roof with duct tape—temporary and ineffective. Mulamula hoped the Tunis Forum would serve as a roadmap for the next decade, transforming advocacy into tangible, measurable outcomes like increased funding for women's shelters or better data tracking on violence.
As the host nation, Tunisia seized the spotlight to showcase its track record in promoting women's rights. H.E. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Tunisians Abroad, noted that Tunisia's journey began right after gaining independence in 1956 with the Personal Status Code—a landmark law that set the country apart in North Africa by granting women expanded legal and social rights, such as easier access to divorce and education. Fast-forward to 2022, the Constitution reinforced this path by enshrining gender equality and enabling the region's first female Prime Minister, Khemaies Jhinaoui, to take office. Nafti made it clear these aren't mere symbols; they stem from a deep national conviction that women should actively shape peace efforts, not just react to them. For a beginner, picture this as evolving from basic rights like voting to full participation in decision-making, ensuring women influence policies on conflict resolution and reconstruction.
The discussions were grounded in lived experiences by two former presidents: H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and H.E. Joyce Banda of Malawi. Sahle-Work detailed how displacement, job loss, and instability disproportionately burden women, turning their unpaid work—like farming or caregiving—into the hidden lifeline for communities during crises. She called on leaders and partners to tackle the political and economic drivers of conflict, treating peace as a smart investment, akin to funding infrastructure that yields long-term benefits rather than a vague dream.
Banda reinforced this, highlighting UNSCR 1325 as a global milestone that acknowledged women as key players in conflict resolution. She pointed out that African women have long been pioneers in mediation—think of traditional elders or community leaders facilitating talks between warring groups—and humanitarian aid, often before international bodies even recognized their contributions. This raises a controversial point: Have we been undervaluing indigenous knowledge, or is there room for blending local practices with global frameworks?
Additional insights flowed from Hon. Justice Emeritus Effie Owuor, who explained how digital tools are reshaping conflicts by enabling the spread of false information, online bullying, and calls to violence. Peacebuilding strategies need to adapt, she urged, by enhancing early alert systems (like monitoring social media for hate speech) and bolstering mediation processes while ensuring women aren't sidelined from choices impacting their lives. For clarity, imagine a village where misinformation via WhatsApp groups incites riots—policies must connect to these real-world scenarios to foster true security.
H.E. Ms. Nyaradzayi advocated for more funding for female peacebuilders and mentorship for young women stepping into leadership. UN Women pledged unwavering support for AU members in fulfilling WPS goals, stressing the importance of ongoing tracking and resources—think regular reports on women's inclusion in military and police forces.
Drawing from her extensive background with the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO), Ms. Grace Kabayo called for a resurgence of widespread mobilization. She stood in solidarity with nations grappling with instability, such as South Sudan, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, urging proactive measures to nip crises in the bud. Kabayo encouraged African women to forge unified power, uphold democratic principles, and safeguard those entering public roles from backlash.
The forum's official launch came from Tunisia’s Minister of Family, Women, Childhood and Seniors, H.E. Asma Jebri, who welcomed attendees and underscored Tunisia's duty as host to propel the WPS agenda forward. Her address was unequivocal: women's leadership isn't an afterthought—it's a core pillar for Africa's peace, stability, and growth.
Read also: East Africa risks €2.75B in farm exports as EU traceability rules expose major compliance gaps (https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/east-africa-risks-e2-75b-in-farm-exports-as-eu-traceability-rules-expose-major-compliance-gaps/)
Read also: Kenyan Activist Truphena Muthoni breaks 72+ hour tree-hugging Guinness World Record (https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/kenyan-activist-truphena-muthoni-breaks-72-hour-tree-hugging-guinness-world-record/)
Read also: Gender Based Violence in Kenya: How a national crisis is undermining Social Sustainability (https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/gender-based-violence-in-kenya-how-a-national-crisis-is-undermining-social-sustainability/)
Engage with us on LinkedIn: Africa Sustainability Matters (https://www.linkedin.com/company/africa-sustainability-matters/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Adflagship3searchsrpall%3BOXVLUySuR12cDu1KpoHL8Q%3D%3D)
What do you think? Does the slow ratification of treaties like CEVAWG signal a lack of political will, or are there deeper cultural barriers at play? And should women be given more power in global forums, even if it challenges traditional structures? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree that peacebuilding starts with empowering women, or is there another angle we're missing? Let's discuss!
