In 2020, the international community was meant to focus on a number of key landmark events: The 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 20 years since the adoption of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and critically the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Founding Charter, are just three events in a long list of jubilees. Connected with the 2019 momentum of the women-led revolution in Sudan and the Global Climate Strike Movement, key stakeholders were urged to shape a collective, intersectional, and resolute action plan for a critical decade ahead towards the achievement of the UN SDGs.
The global COVID-19 pandemic sidelined many of these issues across global multilateral agendas and removed or shifted resource priorities. In the context of Women, Peace and Security, the damaging effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on girls’ education, the significant increase of sexual and gender-based violence and the further entrenchment of socio-economic gender inequalities give rise to particular concern.
Women, Peace, and Security must remain a central policy priority because and not only despite of the COVID-19 Pandemic. To send this clear message, to leverage the expertise of young women peace leaders in Africa, and to exchange ideas and experiences towards transformative strategies and actions for inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding is the objective of this UNGA75 side-event. To elevate the voices and experiences of African women leaders at the forefront of building peace and enhancing securities, the Permanent Representations of the Republic of Niger to the United Nations, the Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations, the German Africa Foundation, the Elman Peace Centre, and the African Women Leaders Network, jointly organised a side event at UNGA75 on the theme: “Young women at the forefront of peace and security in Africa”.