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Global Peace Women leaders from Africa convened to discuss the role of women in advancing peace and equitable development on the African Continent. Sessions during the GPC 2023 explored the “African Renaissance” and values driven approaches to empowering local leadership in a continental renewal. The term “African Renaissance” was coined at the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Uganda in 2018. It outlines an approach to peacebuilding in Africa grounded in a vision for peace guided by universal principles and shared values, particularly living to for the greater good.
“It is an idea that places agency of peace and development in the hands of the people of Africa, recognizing the value of the principles and shared values that are present in the cultures, faiths, and peoples of Africa, and the universal vision that we are ‘One Family under God’,” said Ms. Hanako Ikeno, International President of Global Peace Women (GPW).
Following the webinar, GPW held a strategic meeting with women leaders from various African countries on 25th November to reflect on the implications of this approach for peace and development, and how women, families, and GPW can contribute to this process. The meeting convened peacebuilding GPW leaders from Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania, among other African nations who shared their valuable insights and experiences on building a more peaceful, development conscious and equitable Africa.
In the wake of the conflicts and war that is happening in different parts of the globe, Dr. Eva Latham, President, Human Rights Teaching International invited the participants to change their mindset from war, terming it as immoral, to embracing peacebuilding and peaceful co-existence as the normal way of life. Other speakers highlighted the need for taking ownership of the peacebuilding and development dream while promoting and empowering women as the drivers of transformative leadership and peacebuilding from themselves, their homes, the community and the world.
“At a personal level, we should all work at our attitude, information, emotions, opportunities and understanding, as this forms the basis of any elected barriers, hostility and estranging divisions among the people,” said Rev. Canon Rosemary Mbogo, the Provincial Secretary, Anglican Church of Kenya.
Among other things, the strategic forum sought to highlight the unique and complementary qualities that women bring into the peacebuilding process while promoting cooperation between men and women for peace and equitable development. In addition, the forum spotlighted African peacebuilding initiatives that can empower women and families to participate in peacebuilding. It also created an avenue for the participants to connect and encourage cross-continental collaboration to support and amplify women’s peacebuilding efforts across different African regions.
During the webinar, participants identified obstacles and unique challenges to women's leadership in peacebuilding in the African context which included gender gap, gender inequalities, women subjugation, and cultural differences. They also proposed an action plan for women's involvement in peacebuilding starting from their families. This included inculcating the right values in children with the mindset of ‘peace begins in the home’ and equipping them with conflict resolution skills. They also highlighted the need for women’s collaboration, both amongst themselves and with men in ending the gender gap, strengthening peacebuilding advocacy efforts and building strong networks that will contribute towards the realization of the African Renaissance.