New York — The African Union (AU) has reaffirmed its global leadership in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda during the week-long commemoration of the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The AU’s unified message was clear: two decades of commitment must now translate into measurable accountability and transformative impact.
Windhoek+25: A New Call to Action
At the heart of the AU’s advocacy was the Windhoek+25 Declaration, adopted in Namibia just days before the UN gathering. Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Special Envoy of the AU Commission Chairperson on Women, Peace and Security, the declaration marked a shift from symbolic inclusion to substantive influence.
“The era of symbolic inclusion is over,” Ambassador Mulamula declared. “The Windhoek+25 Declaration is a new Call to Action, moving the agenda forward by demanding that we stop counting women’s presence and start measuring their influence and transformative impact.”
The declaration emphasized three pillars of accountability:
• Financial Accountability: Advocating for gender-responsive budgeting and sustainable financing for WPS initiatives.
• Addressing New Threats: Integrating gender perspectives into emerging challenges such as climate change, digital violence, and displacement.
• Intergenerational Leadership: Empowering youth as co-architects of peace for the next 25 years.
Africa’s Roadmap for Change
The AU spotlighted Africa’s proactive role in WPS implementation, citing Kenya’s launch of its Third National Action Plan (KNAP III) as a model for costed, actionable national strategies. Ambassador Mulamula outlined five continental priorities:
• Full Participation: Ensuring at least 30% representation of women in all peace processes.
• Protection and Accountability: Combating gender-based violence and securing justice for survivors.
• Regional Solidarity: Strengthening women’s platforms across regional economic communities (RECs) for cross-border collaboration.
• Intergenerational Mentorship: Bridging youth and seasoned leadership to amplify grassroots voices.
• Economic Empowerment and Peace Education: Building resilience through economic inclusion and embedding peace curricula in schools.
Voices from the Frontlines
The AU also hosted the second launch of the e-book She Stands for Peace: 25 Stories in Celebration of 25 Years of UNSCR 1325 at Africa House. Peacebuilders Ms. Fabiola Faïda Mwangilwa (DRC) and Ms. Saba Gebremedhin Hagos (Ethiopia) shared powerful testimonies, calling for enduring peace and justice.
The AU expressed gratitude to Norway and Ireland for their financial support, channeled through the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), which enabled the global amplification of African women’s peacebuilding narratives.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
At the High-Level Meeting on the UN Secretary-General’s Common Pledge, H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Edrees, AU Permanent Observer to the UN, welcomed the pledge and urged all actors to implement its commitments.
“When women are meaningfully included in peace processes, the outcomes are stronger, fairer and more enduring,” Ambassador Edrees affirmed.
A Future Built on Accountability
The AU’s engagement during WPS Week underscored a powerful truth: peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, equality, and inclusivity. With the Windhoek+25 Declaration as its compass, the African Union remains steadfast in ensuring that women’s leadership—across generations—is central to building a peaceful and resilient Africa.
