On 16-17 October, the Republic of Namibia in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) hosted the silver anniversary commemoration of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). The event was held in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme, “25 years of 1325, Honoring the Legacy, Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.”  In honoring Namibia’s pioneering role championing for the resolution, the two-day event was officiated by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia and had the presence of African women leaders including Former Heads of State H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), and H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic).

In her address, President Netumbo stressed the importance of moving beyond resolutions and policies by aligning political will with dedicated resources and concrete actions to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.

During a panel moderated by the AU Commission Chairperson’s Special Envoy for WPS Liberata Mulamula, the participants shared insights from their personal journeys, reflecting on the progress achieved since the adoption of UNSCR 1325. They also highlighted the ongoing challenges and unfinished work of ensuring women’s full inclusion in peace efforts.

The high-level event culminated into a powerful call for the next 25 years, dubbed, “Windhoek +25 Declaration” which seeks to transform the WPS agenda to practical action by, among others, promoting intergenerational partnership and empowering the next generation of women and men, strengthening women’s leadership in political and peacebuilding spaces, and bolstering Africa’s readiness to tackle new and emerging challenges in WPS. During the commemoration, an e-book “She Stands for Peace: 25 stories in celebration of 25 years of UNSCR 1325” was launched by the AU and the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU) to showcase impactful stories of women peacebuilders from across the African continent.

Women Leaders from the Great Lakes Region Call for Action on Peace and Security

On the sidelines of the high-level commemoration of the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Windhoek, the Office of the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, in collaboration with other partners, provided technical and financial support to the African Union Commission (AUC) Office of the Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security (WPS) to convene an information-sharing session on 18 October. The event brought together women leaders from civil society and government across the Great Lakes region, alongside participants from the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

Building on recommendations of regional women’s forums in Bujumbura (August 2024) and Luanda (October 2024), the side-event provided an opportunity for the participants to engage directly with former Presidents Catherine Panza and Sahle Work Zewde, who articulated their vision in their capacity as members of the Panel of Facilitators of the Regional Peace Process. In his remarks, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Huang Xia  underscored the vital contributions of women to peace efforts at the grassroots level  and emphasized the importance of building on these efforts to achieve durable peace agreements across the region.

Participants  exchanged experiences in mediation and benefited from peer-learning and knowledge  sharing. They underscored the importance of women’s meaningful participation, recommending at least 30% representation in all peace processes and proposed the establishment of a dedicated fund through the AU to effectively advance the WPS agenda beyond its silver anniversary.

Additionally, they called for urgent humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected communities, particularly internally displaced persons and refugees. Discussions further highlighted the pressing need to address conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, enhance partnerships with local women’s organizations, and strengthen cross-border women’s initiatives focused on countering hate speech, rebuilding trust and supporting livelihood recovery.