Non-Aligned Movement has stressed the need for Member States to increase and enhance women’s participation in peacekeeping operations. The Movement accords utmost significance to Resolution 1325, a landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 31 October 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. Resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts.
The African Union (AU) comprising 55 African states—most of which are NAM members—shares NAM’s objectives of global peace, equality, and multilateral cooperation. In line with these goals, the African Union has consistently reiterated its commitment to enhancing the role of women in peacekeeping. The AU implements its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) commitments through the Continental Results Framework (CRF), a structured monitoring and reporting tool which sets standardized indicators across key pillars—prevention, protection, participation, relief & recovery, and emerging security challenges—to promote accountability, identify gaps, and guide policy decisions.
On June 27, 2025, the African Union Commission, through the Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS) concluded a three-day high-level workshop designed to revitalize how Africa monitors and implements its WPS through the CRF. The workshop was also organised at a juncture when preparations are underway to commemorate the 25th anniversary of historic resolution 1325.
Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, reaffirmed AU’s strong commitment to the WPS agenda. She underscored the importance of inclusive leadership, evidence-based policymaking, and robust partnerships. Beletshachew Aynalem, Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation Specialist representing UN Women, on her part, presented the CRF as a critical political tool for advancing gender equality within Africa’s peace and security architecture. She emphasized the urgency of ratifying the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, strengthening women’s leadership, enhancing grassroots inclusion, and securing sustainable financing for WPS efforts.
The workshop on operationalizing the Continental Results Framework (CRF) and advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda yielded several substantive outcomes. One of the key recommendations was the recalibration of the CRF itself. Participants called for a simplified, user-friendly digital reporting tool aligned with Member States’ technical capacities. Biennial reporting cycles and the establishment of real-time feedback mechanisms were proposed to reduce reporting fatigue and strengthen national ownership of the WPS agenda. Ten priority actions were identified, including the integration of emerging security challenges—such as digital gender-based violence and climate insecurity—into the CRF indicators. The emphasis was also placed on promoting intergenerational leadership and localized, data-informed approaches to WPS implementation. The workshop underscored the need for improved coordination between national WPS steering committees, regional organizations, and grassroots actors to ensure cohesive and inclusive policy execution. Field representatives from the Sahel region—specifically Chad, Burkina Faso, and Niger—presented innovative, context-sensitive models and advocated for greater financial support for community-driven peacebuilding and hybrid data systems. To ensure meaningful accountability, the African Union was urged to harmonize WPS reporting timelines, institutionalize consistent feedback mechanisms, and ensure that CRF-generated data directly informs high-level policymaking and budgetary priorities across Member States.
In her closing address, Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, Director for Women, Gender and Youth at the African Union Commission, stated, “This workshop has not only identified critical gaps and innovations—it has laid the foundation for a new era of WPS implementation. The CRF must evolve into a vibrant, inclusive, and responsive tool that reflects the lived realities of African women at the forefront of peace and conflict.” She stressed that WPS progress must be driven by collective commitment, sustained political will, and coordinated action across sectors.
