In our latest podcast episode, we delve into the inspiring world of young women peacebuilders in Africa. Discover how these remarkable individuals foster intergenerational dialogue and co-leadership to promote good governance, peace, security, and development across the continent. Join us as we explore the African Union's Youth for Peace program and hear from influential leaders like Dr. Rhuks Ako and Hannah Lema, founder of Addis Powerhouse. We also hear the experiences of two female ex-combatants from the Central African Republic and the impact of limited access to DDR processes. Their insights and experiences shed light on young women's critical role in peacebuilding and the challenges they face. Don't miss out on these powerful stories and learn how you can support the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. Listen now and stand for peace with Africa's young women peacebuilders.

In this episode of She Stands for Peace, we turn our attention to peace agreements, asking how we can meaningfully promote women's inclusion and address the barriers faced by women and local civil society in peace negotiations. Despite a reported decline in women's participation in UN-led peace processes from 23% in 2020 to 19% in 2021, there are notable examples of progress, such as the gender provisions in the Lo Nuer-Dinka Bomule Action for Peace Agreement in South Sudan.

We hear from Dr. Koiti Emily, who shares her experiences as a youth representative in the IGAD High-Level Revitalization Forum and emphasizes the importance of youth and women's representation in peace processes. Additionally, Carol Baudouin, Security Sector Reform Chief at MINUSCA, discusses making women's participation a prerequisite in peace negotiations. Halal Al Karib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), provides insights into the consequences of excluding gender from peace processes, drawing on the situation in Sudan. She highlights that neglecting women's roles and experiences leads to alienation and perpetuates cycles of conflict.

SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, joins us in this inaugural episode of Season Four of the She Stands for Peace podcast. In our compelling dialogue, SRSG Onanga-Anyanga reflects on the journey of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in Africa, as we near a quarter-century since its inception. He commends the progress made while candidly addressing the persistent challenges such as deep-rooted societal norms, political inaction, and the threat of backlash. As climate change, economic strife, and violent extremism disproportionately affect women and girls, he underscores the importance of a holistic approach to implementing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. With Africa's adoption of numerous regional and National Action Plans, there is a testament to the political will to advance women's roles in peacebuilding and security. Yet, the struggle for women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in decision-making and conflict mediation persists.

Join us as we explore these critical issues and celebrate the strides made in gender parity, while also recognizing the road ahead. Share your insights and be part of the conversation by emailing unoau-public-information@un.org.

Stand for peace with Africa’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda!

Welcome! to season four of the She Stands for Peace podcast, a series by the United Nations Office to the African Union, supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regular listeners of the podcast will know that past seasons have been a series of interviews with key actors working to achieve WPS in Africa. In this fourth season, we depart from this format. Instead, each episode unpacks various topics aligned with the four pillars of WPS, with insights from guests playing critical roles in achieving the agenda.

Sarah Muhoya is the Coordinator of the Democracy Trust Fund in Kenya and Head of Positioning & Democracy at Echo Network Africa. In this episode, we discuss women’s equal participation in electoral processes in Africa for political stability and sustainable peace. 

Anita Kiki Gbeho is the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). In this episode, we discuss inclusive approaches to women’s meaningful political participation and leadership.