The 6th African Union (AU) Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Forum officially opened this morning in Tunis with a strong call for resilience, accountability, and action to protect women across the continent.
In a video address, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, set the tone for the two-day high-level summit, thanking the Government of Tunisia for its leadership in governance and women’s rights. He also paid tribute to trailblazing African leaders, including H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and H.E. Joyce Banda of Malawi, whose leadership continues to inspire the continent.
Highlighting the challenges facing Africa—from political transitions and violent extremism to climate shocks—H.E. Youssouf praised African women for their resilience, describing them as the backbone of peace and stability. He specifically honoured women enduring conflict and displacement in Sudan, the Great Lakes region, and the Sahel.
Speaking during the 16 Days of Activism, the Chairperson emphasized that gender-based violence is a daily responsibility, not a seasonal concern, rooted in human dignity. He applauded South Africa’s leadership at the G20, where violence against women and girls was declared a Global Disaster, marking a milestone aligned with the AU’s new Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
H.E. Youssouf called on all AU Member States to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the Convention, stressing:
“This Convention is not just a legal obligation; it is a political and moral imperative to guarantee protection, justice, and accountability for women and girls across our continent.”
Reaffirming the AU’s commitment to the WPS agenda, he highlighted Africa’s strong normative foundations, including the Maputo Protocol, the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality, and the newly adopted Convention. He welcomed the AU’s new Special Envoy on WPS, H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, pledging close collaboration with Member States and platforms such as FemWise-Africa and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) to achieve tangible and measurable results.
The two-day forum brings together leaders, policymakers, and civil society representatives to advance women’s participation in peace and security efforts across Africa.
