MIDRAND, South Africa – Legislators and civil society groups have called for the inclusion of women in all peacebuilding activities and processes in order to bring about lasting peace on the African continent.
Reports on the Parliament website indicate that the resolutions adopted at the end of a two-day Pan African Parliament Conference on women’s rights participants were concerned that women and children are the most affected by conflicts and displacement
The conference was held at the Pan African Parliament headquarters in Midrand, South Africa October 14 to 15 2019. It was attended by African women legislators and persons involved in work and advocacy in the areas of women and gender.
The meeting called upon African Union Member States to strengthen comprehensive mediation, peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms, including the full participation of women in all peacebuilding activities and processes, to pursue national reconciliation through the African Peace and Security Architecture, to strengthen Africa’s peacekeeping and enforcement capabilities and collaboration with the United Nations system.
Uganda was represented by Hon. Anifa Kawooya, Hon. Jacquiline Amongin, the Chairperson of the Uganda Women Parliamentarians, Hon. Pamela Kamugo, Hon. Robina Rwakoojo and Hon. Justine Khainza.
Participants noted, “with regret that women bear the burden of poverty, owing to limited access to decision-making processes, finance, education, health and means of production.”
During a debate on the role of parliamentarians, Hon. Anifa Kawooya appealed to fellow legislators to gain confidence to be able to lobby their male colleagues and government to see that issues affecting women are passed in Parliament.
“We lack skills and we are not confident and due to our low numbers we need to lobby governments to push our issues through Parliament,” she said.
The conference held since 2008 provides an avenue for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of women’s issues; revisiting progress made by the PAP in the promotion of gender mainstreaming; the economic advancement of women on the continent; and a discussion on the planning, implementation and monitoring of gender-focused programmes, policies and activities of the African Union and PAP.
Recommendations on the African Women’s Decade, 2010 – 2020, ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the AU theme for 2019 on refugees and internally displaced persons and on women and ICT were adopted.
Participants urged member states to put the concerns of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons on the agendas of the AU Peace and Security Council and Regional Economic Communities.
