Women take the Stage: National Conference on Women, Peace and Security set the path for women’s participation in peace, security, and recovery processes in Mozambique

UN Women, in partnership with Women's Organizations and Networks, and with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, organized the National Conference on Women, Peace and Security under the theme "Promoting Women's Participation and Leadership in the Agenda on Women, Peace and Security". The conference’s main objective was to raise awareness about the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Mozambique, with a focus on women's participation and leadership in peace processes among key actors and reaffirm the joint commitment to promote the agenda on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) at the national and local levels.

The WPS Conference was held during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, on 30 November and 1 December in Pemba, Cabo Delgado, where significant conflict situations have occurred, amounting to 946,508 Internal displaced people, including women and girls, (IOM, Nov 2022)

The conference was attended by stakeholders ranging from Women’s Organizations and Networks from Maputo, Manica, Tete, Sofala, Zambezia, Nampula, and Cabo Delgado Provinces, including women affected by conflict from Cabo Delgado and Sofala, Youth Associations, Religious and Community Leaders, UN agencies, International Organizations and Government Officers. A total of 130 participants attended (100 in person and 30 virtually) from which 110 were female and 20 male.

The conference counted on the intervention of UN Women Representative, Dr. Marie Laetitia Kayisire, complimented by key speakers such as the Peace Secretariat who delivered a presentation on the DDR processes; the Movement for Women and Peace led by Fundacao para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade (FDC); and the African Women’s Leaders Network (AWLN), represented by the Executive Director, Dr. Rafa Valente Machava; and leaders from Women’s Organizations (FORUM Mulher, PROMURA, GIMPS, MMC, among others).

The Governor of Cabo Delgado, H.E Valige Tauabo opened the ceremony, highlighting that, “all Mozambican women and men should be freed of gender-based violence, especially in the context of conflict and humanitarian crises '.    He added, “The Government is committed to promoting the women, peace and security agenda at the provincial and district levels and congratulate the work of women organizations in supporting women on the ground. This is a prove that together we can change our country" 

The Ambassador of Norway in Mozambique, H.E Haakon Gram- Johannessen, emphasized “Internationally, Norway has experience in investing in the training of women mediators to play an active role in the establishment of the global alliance for women mediators including the African chapter. The women represent an important reinforcement for the implementation of resolution 1325 in the country.”

Ms. Isabel Prostamo, Representative of the Cabo Delgado Women's Organizations, highlighted that “Women and women's organizations request for the strengthening of the integration of gender perspectives in humanitarian support efforts in the context of conflict, because women are part of the most affected group.  Women informed, trained and determined can contribute to changing the scenario. We are strong and capable, and you only have to believe to see.”

Among key recommendations the conference highlighted the following:

• Strengthen the capacity of internally displaced and conflict-affected women in conflict prevention and mediation, including literacy and literacy training.
• Hold community discussions on the importance of women's participation in peace processes and ensure women's involvement in the development of the next National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security,
• Invest in the economic empowerment of conflict-affected women to ensure their recovery and reintegration into communities,
• Provide psychosocial support to conflict-affected women
• Conduct a mapping of organizations working on women, peace and security across the country to promote networking, synergies and coordinated action where needed
• Develop interventions to promote socio-economic re-integration of women who were forced to participate in the conflicts but were excluded from socio-economic recovery processes for various reasons

About the Project

The technical and financial support to strengthen the capacity of women organizations and networks is part of UN Women's commitments to promote participation and leadership of women in peace, security and recovery processes, towards the implementation of Women, Peace and Security global and national commitments in collaboration with Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action and financial support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Maputo.

Promoting the participation and leadership of women in peace, security and recovery processes in Mozambique is a  UN Women project funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Maputo that aims to  ensure that women and girls contribute to and to have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience and to benefit equally from the prevention of the conflict, and disasters in central and northern regions of Mozambique, in 4 provinces namely: Manica, Sofala, Cabo Delgado and Nampula while working on building enabling environment at national level.

The programme targets capacity building of 10,500 women and girls affected by conflict and 2,500 representative of women organization in conflict prevention, response and recovery,  conduction of civic campaign to increase awareness of the vital role of women's participation in building and sustaining socio and cultural positive norms and values for social cohesion and peacebuilding and support social norms transformation, and promotion the socioeconomic recovery of women and young women affected by conflict.