The African Union (AU) has emphasized the need for increased participation and leadership of women in peace and security efforts across the Great Lakes Region, not only in numbers but also in the quality of their contributions. As part of this commitment, the AU, through its Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, is facilitating a High-Level Regional Forum to address the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the wider Great Lakes region.

Hosted by the President of Angola, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenco, who also serves as the facilitator of the Luanda Peace Process for the DRC, the forum will be held from October 18-19, 2024, in Luanda. The event aims to strengthen women’s participation in peace and security processes within the region. It brings together delegates from 12 Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), alongside various other key stakeholders, including government representatives, civil society, and international organizations.

The two-day forum will serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, focusing on the importance of gender perspectives in peace and security policies. The security situation in the Great Lakes region, particularly in Eastern DRC, has severely impacted women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for their increased involvement in peace processes. Attendees will assess women’s contributions to ongoing peace initiatives, identify barriers to their participation, and develop strategies for enhancing their leadership roles.

H.E. Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace, and Security, reiterated the AU’s dedication to ensuring women’s voices are integral to conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. “The Women, Peace, and Security Agenda is a comprehensive approach to promoting women’s inclusion as active participants in maintaining peace. We must ensure that women’s rights are protected, and their perspectives integrated into peace and security agendas at all levels,” she said.

The outcomes of the forum will be crucial in shaping a cohesive approach to integrating gender issues into security situations across the region. The forum follows recommendations from the Third High-Level African Forum on Women, Peace, and Security held in December 2023, which called for greater attention to the crises in DRC and the Great Lakes region and requested increased efforts to support women’s roles in peacebuilding initiatives.

The event will feature participation from Heads of State, Gender Ministers, members of the African Women Leaders Network, and representatives from regional economic communities, the United Nations, and civil society organizations. It is expected to provide a renewed focus on women’s contributions to the peace and security landscape, especially as the region continues to grapple with ongoing instability.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in realizing the goals of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda and ensuring that women are empowered to play leading roles in shaping the future of peace and stability in the Great Lakes region.