The African Union (AU) recognizes that women’s participation and leadership must be considered a primary element in the quest for peace and security on the continent. In recognition of the importance of women as equal partners in peace, security, governance and sustainable development, the African Union through the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security is facilitating a High-Level Regional Forum of Women of the Great Lakes Region focused on the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes Region.
Hosted by H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenco, the President of the Republic of Angola and Facilitator of the Luanda Peace Process for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the forum will focus on strengthening women’s participation and leadership in peace and security processes in DR Congo and the Great Lakes Region. The two-day forum from the 18–19 October 2024 in Luanda, Angola, is a significant move towards fostering dialogue and collaboration and is critical to achieving a holistic and effective implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by fully integrating gender perspectives into peace and security policies and programs in the region.
The security situation in the Great........