On 06 February 2024, the GIMAC Peace and Security cluster, comprising ACCORD, the Women’s International Peace Centre (WIPC), and Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS), organized a pre-consultation meeting on peace education as a driver of continental peace and security. This meeting was held, Ahead of the 40th GIMAC Pre-Summit CSOs Consultative Meeting on Gender Mainstreaming in the African Union and Member States that will take place from 11th – 14th February 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting was attended by thematic experts, practitioners, and women peacebuilders. The main emphasis was on capacity development initiatives and programmes led by civil society organizations to enhance the knowledge and skills of those involved in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
During the meeting, it was highlighted that civil society initiatives play a pivotal role in empowering women and girls to actively contribute to peacebuilding by engaging in projects that promote dialogue, reconciliation, and social action within their communities. These initiatives equip women and girls with a deep understanding of their communities’ needs and dynamics, reducing dependence on external interventions and fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for maintaining peace.
The discussions during the meeting delved into various aspects, including the significance of peace education for women, insights from trained young women peacebuilders in South Sudan, experiences of locally led peacebuilding in South Africa, and the role of civil society organizations in Niger in promoting peace through community education. The importance of integrating advocacy and policy work into the peace education curriculum was also highlighted, emphasizing the essential role of women in local peacebuilding and the need to embed a peace lens at the local level.
The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of building a peace culture through trust, collaboration, and shared values. Participants agreed on the significance of local ownership in peace initiatives and recognized the role of peace ambassadors in transferring knowledge to communities. Overall, the meeting emphasized the critical role of peace education in fostering sustainable peace, with a focus on the empowerment of women and youth and the engagement of civil society organizations.
