On 12–13 September 2024, ACCORD, in collaboration with Social Justice for Women, hosted a community workshop in East London, Eastern Cape, to localise the South African National Action Plan (SA NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).
The workshop brought together 20 participants from across the Eastern Cape Province, representing a diverse range of stakeholders, including young activists, religious leaders, and aspiring political leaders. Over two days, the workshop provided a platform for robust discussions and strategic planning to advance women’s inclusion in peace and security initiatives in East London.
The first day focused on women’s political participation in the 2024 elections, exploring challenges and opportunities for enhancing women’s roles in political decision-making. On the second day, participants delved into the SA NAP on WPS, unpacking its key pillars and assessing its relevance to local contexts.
While the workshop achieved significant objectives—such as identifying barriers and fostering collaboration among stakeholders—it also highlighted critical challenges in implementing the SA NAP. Key issues included limited grassroots awareness of the plan, weak implementation and monitoring mechanisms, and insufficient attention to electoral violence as a core focus area.
Religious leaders played a pivotal role in the discussions, emphasising the importance of community values in promoting women’s representation, leadership, and participation in politics. They shared strategies for how religious institutions can challenge gender stereotypes and support peaceful, inclusive elections. Practical solutions emerged, including strategies to combat gender-based violence and establish support networks for women candidates.
To address these challenges, the workshop proposed several recommendations; expanding outreach and capacity-building efforts to raise grassroots awareness of the SA NAP; strengthening monitoring and accountability mechanisms to track progress; securing additional resources to support implementation; and prioritising strategies to prevent gender-based violence in political spaces.
Participants also emphasised the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the needs of marginalised and underrepresented groups, ensuring inclusivity in all efforts. This workshop collaborative workshop underscored the critical role of collaborative, community-based initiatives in advancing the goals of the SA NAP.
