ACCORD, through its Peacemaking Unit, has provided technical support to a two-day joint solidarity mission to the Central African Republic (CAR). The mission, which was co-led by Mme Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Mme Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the AU on Women, Peace and Security, and Ambassador Adolphe Nahayo, ECCAS representative in CAR; aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the situation of women and girls in CAR.
Following a coup d’état in April 2013 and a resurgence of violence in December 2013, the situation in CAR worsened and resulted in thousands of displaced population and refugees fleeing throughout the region. Particularly vulnerable, women and children have been the main victims of this situation. Additionally, in the eve of presidential elections schedule for 2015, the security conditions for those populations remain a priority for the international community.
In this context, and based on the strong message conveyed by the nomination of the first women president in CAR, Mme Catherine Samba-Panza, the High Level delegation visit is a call for supporting the promotion of dialogue through the inclusion of women in the peace processes. The High Level team held a series of consultations in Bangui, the capital city, to engage the CAR Transitional Authorities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, religious leaders, and especially women’s groups, as well as met with the victims of the conflict, in an attempt to identify ways and means to support and empower CAR women to become agents of reconciliation, peace and development. The mission also provided specific suggestions and recommendation to support the role of women and girls in conflict situation such as the participation and leadership of women in local reconciliation, national dialogues, transitional justice and elections.
Through this mission, ACCORD and the participating organisations, seek to support the transitional authorities and all stakeholders in their endeavour to mainstream the participation of women in efforts to resolve the CAR crisis and build sustainable peace in the country.
