SADC Strengthens Capacity on Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Madagascar
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in partnership with the Government of Madagascar, held a capacity-building workshop focused on advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda from 20 to 22 August 2024 in Antananarivo.
The workshop, organized through Madagascar’s Ministry of Population and Solidarity, aimed to enhance awareness and knowledge among key stakeholders about the WPS Agenda and to assess progress at both national and local levels.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities in implementing the WPS Agenda, as well as to foster a strong network of actors dedicated to promoting women’s participation in peace and security processes.
The initiative was launched in the context of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, a landmark resolution developed in 2000, which underscores the significant impact of armed conflict on women and highlights their crucial role in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
Hon. Randriamanantenasoa Landy Mbolatiana, Madagascar’s Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of Population and Solidarity, opened the workshop, reiterating Madagascar’s commitment to implementing its national action plan on WPS.
She emphasized the importance of prioritizing peace consolidation, protection, and the active participation of women in peace and security, even in the absence of conflict in Madagascar, where violence against women and girls remains a concern.
SADC Mediation & Peacebuilding Officer, Mr. Fabrice Tunda, commended the workshop as a significant step toward enhancing women’s participation in peace and security processes. He emphasized the importance of including women in peace negotiations, peacebuilding efforts, and conflict prevention at all levels.
UNDP Resident Representative in Madagascar, Dr. Edward A. Christow, highlighted that the development of Madagascar’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security would enable national stakeholders to identify priorities, allocate resources, and implement strategic actions that address the specific needs of women and girls in peace and security contexts.
The workshop gathered a diverse group of participants, including representatives from various government departments, the security and justice sectors, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, and the media.
Dr. Martha Mutisi, a WPS expert, emphasized the importance of promoting a gender-inclusive perspective and ensuring women’s equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and security. She emphasized that the WPS Agenda is about integrating women’s needs and perspectives in conflict prevention, management, resolution, and recovery processes.
Ms. Kelly Dambuza-Chifani, Programme Officer for Gender-Based Violence at the SADC Secretariat, shared findings from the SADC Regional Assessment on the implementation of the WPS Agenda, recommending a strengthened multi-stakeholder approach at the national level.
The workshop concluded with a focus on identifying opportunities and entry points to enhance the implementation and coordination of the WPS Agenda in Madagascar, with an emphasis on localizing efforts through inclusive community engagement activities.
Source: SADC
