Why Young People Need to be Empowered
Valine Samantha Wejuli is the current Vice President of the Makerere Rotaract Club, a position she was voted in after she had been trained in peacebuilding and Leadership by the peace centre in 2021.
Maximising Youth Potential in Peacebuilding Processes
In Uganda, more than 78% of the population is below the age of 30. These represent an enormous untapped potential that can significantly contribute to the country’s political and social development if they are actively involved in influencing, shaping, designing and contributing to policy formulation and development processes. That being said, it is critical that youth inclusively participate in peacebuilding processes to ensure sustainable and inclusive peace.
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“We Need to be heard! Our Voices Matter”- Racheal Peace Kanyi
While it’s true that youth inclusion in peacebuilding processes is critical for ensuring sustainable and inclusive peace as recognised by the UNSCR 2250, young people remain largely excluded from formal peacebuilding processes.
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Catherine Birungi Wanyana is Driving Change from the Ghetto
Catherine Birungi is a woman leader from Kibuye 1, Kanakulya zone and also one of the 23 participants of the Training of Trainers community-based facilitators for the peacebuilding program of 2021.
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NAP III Popular Version
The Government of Uganda recognizes the critical importance of ensuring
sustained peace and security through enhanced meaningful participation
of women in peace and development processes and is committed to the
implementation of the National Action Plan III (NAP III) on Women, Peace and
Security (WPS) 2021-2025.
The development of NAP III was premised on the lessons learnt from the previous two NAPs, i.e. the NAP 1 (2008-2010) and NAP II (2011-2015). with a new focus on investing in rigorous and addressing the challenges that prevail in achieving lasting and inclusive peace through women’s meaningful participation.
Download the NAP III : NAP III – Popular Version
SAVE THE DATE: Interrogating Elections In Africa
The Peace Centre in partnership with Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), Food and Climate, Io: Facilitating Spaces for Feminist Conversations and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) invite you to a discussion interrogating elections in Africa on April 27, 2022, at 3:00 p.m (EAT). Read More “SAVE THE DATE: Interrogating Elections In Africa”
Civil Society Organisations’ Training On Peacebuilding, Gender-Sensitive Programs, and Advocacy for The Effective Implementation of United Nations Security Commission Resolution 1325 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
From 12th to 14th April, civil society organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo involved in the implementation of the Just Future program were trained on consolidation of peace, gender-sensitive programs, and advocacy for the effective implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security by Women’s International Peace Centre.
The 3-day training took place in Kinshasa and brought together 13 participants including 7 women and 6 men with the main objective of providing knowledge and skills to partner civil society organizations for the integration of gender in their policies and interventions.
The training was based on the andragogical method which allowed the partners to participate in the planning and evaluation of their learning. It was participatory, interactive and involved cross-sectional discussions to allow participants to contribute to their own understanding of the theme.
At the end of the training, the 13 participants had a better understanding of the basic concepts of gender equality in development; had the methodological tools to improve the integration of gender equality in the design, planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of community-based projects in the internal functioning of their organizations and adopted gender-sensitive behavior including positive masculinity.
Enhancing the Capacity of Young Women Leaders on Physical and Digital Protection
Digital security is of serious concern, especially since people spend more time online than ever. COVID-19 pandemic led to isolation and social distancing measures which meant that everyday activities like work and schooling were shifted online. The presence in digital spaces increases exposure to digital threats, which in turn creates the need for greater awareness of how to safely navigate the online world. From 23rd to 25th March 2022, the Peace Centre organised a physical and digital protection training.
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Women Peace and Security Reflection Workshop on NAP III Implementation, Progress, Gaps and Opportunities.
The Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) launched the third National Action Plan (NAP) III on Women, Peace, and Security on 8th March 2021 amidst COVID- 19 restrictions which was hugely consultative.
It is in this regard that the Women’s International Peace Centre in collaboration with Coalition for Action on 1325, and its partners convened a National Women, Peace and Security Forum on 22nd April 2022 in Kampala to achieve the following objectives;
- Increase knowledge and understanding of the M&E framework for NAP III
- Document what has been achieved and lessons learnt in the first year of the NAP implementation
- Cross-learning with women peacebuilders from other East African countries for more effective WPS implementation.
The forum brought together 96 participants (75female and 21 male) from different sectors including Ministries Departments and Agencies, UN Agencies, Embassies, NAP III Steering committee members, Security institutions, Local Government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the national level and grass root level, the academia, the media, youth peace ambassadors and international WPS players from Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
It also facilitated a review and discussed progress, challenges, emerging issues and recommendations to improve the NAP III implementation process after one year of its launch in 2021. This increased knowledge and understanding of the monitoring and evaluation framework for NAP III, documented key achievements and lessons learnt and facilitated cross-learning with women peacebuilders from other East African countries for more effective Women Peace and Security implementation.
Discussions from the meeting provided a platform for different players from Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda to share experiences in terms of best practices, progress made, challenges and recommendations to best implement National Action Plans on Women Peace and Security agenda. This aimed at inspiring and increasing understanding of what is being done by different stakeholders and countries to best implement the WPS agenda.
By closure of the forum, commitments were made by different partners including leaders of CSOs, UN Women, Austrian Development Agency, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development with each committing to play a significant and unique role in the implementation of the NAP III. These commitments included; continuously working with international agencies, CSOs, and local governments to find lasting solutions to the increasing number of refugees in Uganda, working with the government of Uganda through MGLSD and CSOs to increase funding for effective implementation of NAP III through localization and other strategies, increasing efforts through CSOs and government towards addressing crisis including teenage pregnancies in Uganda to mention but a few.
UN Commission on the Status of Women 66: Advancing Feminist Peace in the Context of Climate Change
What does advancing Feminist Peace in the context of climate change look like?
Women’s International Peace Centre hosted a parallel event on 14th March at the 66th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to further discussions on gender equality as it relates to climate change and environmental risk reduction within conflict-affected settings with a focus on women’s experiences and recommendations for advancing peace in this context.