July 23, 2025 (Nairobi, Kenya): IGAD’s Peace and Security Division successfully concluded a three-day regional workshop on “Enhancing the Role of Women in Peace Processes through the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 and Related Instruments”. The workshop brought together women peace-builders from across the region, national stakeholders, and regional experts, reaffirming IGAD’s commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
The meeting was officially opened by Commander Abebe Muluneh, Director of the IGAD Peace and Security Division, with welcome remarks delivered by Mrs. Amina Farah, IGAD Gender Programme Manager. In her address, Mrs.Amina highlighted the importance women’s full and meaningful participation in peace processes, joining the global momentum created by UNSCR 1325 and subsequent resolutions.
The workshop aimed to assess progress, share innovative approaches, and develop practical recommendations to ensure women’s leadership and influence in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. It also provided a space for collective reflection on the bottlenecks that limit women’s inclusion and leadership in formal negotiations and decision-making processes.
The opening sessions focused on a comprehensive overview of UNSCR 1325 and its related resolutions, including linkages with AU and IGAD frameworks. Participants discussed IGAD’s Regional Gender Strategy 2023–2030 and Peace and Security Strategy, which collectively reaffirm the regional body’s dedication to gender-responsive peacebuilding. The day concluded with firsthand experiences from Women mediators in the IGAD region on both the challenges and achievements in women’s inclusion in peace processes.
Discussions on the second day focused on regional and international good practices that have effectively promoted women’s participation in peacebuilding, with particular emphasis on grassroots and civil society contributions. The workshop also examined institutional coordination mechanisms, highlighting the roles of gender ministries, national steering committees, and peace and security actors. The day closed with thematic group work on the role of women mediators and peacebuilders within the IGAD region.
On the final day, participants through groupwork collaborated on the development of a Regional Roadmap aimed at enhancing women’s meaningful engagement in peace processes. This included defining priority actions, timelines, and responsibilities to be undertaken by various stakeholders. The roadmap was validated in plenary, followed by a consolidation of key outputs and policy recommendations.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Amina Farah lauded the collective efforts and contributions of participants, reaffirming IGAD’s ongoing commitment to the WPS agenda and the operationalization of regional and national frameworks to promote women’s agency in peacebuilding.
Key outcomes of the Workshop include:A validated draft of the Regional Roadmap on Women’s Engagement in Peace Processes, consolidated recommendations for enhancing institutional coordination on WPS, strengthened networks among IGAD mediators, women leaders, and regional actors, documentation of best practices and lessons learned from across the IGAD region
As the world marks the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, this workshop served as a timely platform to recommit to ensuring that women are not only included in peace processes but also lead them. IGAD remains steadfast in its efforts to translate global commitments into concrete regional action.
