On 1 July 2020, the Generation Equality Forum announced the development of an innovative global Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) in the context of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Generation Equality Forum (GEF), as well as the 20th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).
The purpose of the Compact on WPS-HA is to create a voluntary multi-stakeholder monitoring and accountability process engaging key global, regional and national players to help narrow the gap between aspirations and concrete actions on WPS-HA, while ensuring that existing global and regional processes are harnessed for national and local engagement and action. In order to lead the Compact, UN Women, as the secretariat of the Compact, envisioned that it would be led by a Board of diverse stakeholders and supported by Catalytic members to mobilize an inter-generational, inclusive global movement for action on women, peace and security and humanitarian action.
On 27 October 2020, a webinar was held by UN Women to announce the appointment of the Board Members and Catalytic Members of the WPS-HA Compact. Ms Pravina Makan-Lakha, Advisor on Women, Peace and Security, represented and accepted the invitation for ACCORD to join the Board. ACCORD will serve as one of the four, and the only African, civil society organisations appointed to the Board.
Following the Board appointment, ACCORD has participated in the first Board Member meeting of the Compact which took place on 16 December 2020 and most recently, it participated in the first working group session on women’s meaningful participation in peace processes which was held on 15 February 2021.
Being a board member of the Global Compact on WPS-HA, allows ACCORD to further its work on WPS and its collaboration with multilateral organizations. Moreover, as the only African-focused civil society organisation on the Board, ACCORD will bring the vital African perspective to the discussions. Such a partnership allows for ACCORD to share the expertise the organisation has garnered over its 28 years of work in the field and build on its relationships with women peacebuilders across the continent, including the FemWise-Africa network and the Gender is My Agenda Campaign (GIMAC) network.
ACCORD looks forward to working together with fellow Board and Catalytic members to ensure a concerted and collaborative approach so that we are able to build back better and stronger together.
