The second day of the 3rd edition of the continental dialogue on the Youth, Women, Peace and Security Agenda convened on Tuesday, August 11, 2016. The event focused on the key role of young women in peacebuilding efforts, with its theme explicitly addressing 'Young Women at the Negotiation Table for Peace'. This dialogue brought together participants to discuss strategies for enhancing women's involvement in peace processes across the continent.
Exclusion and Inclusivity in Peace
Angeline Ndayishimiye stated that women have historically been excluded from peace processes, despite bearing a disproportionate share of conflict's consequences. She emphasized the need to address this disparity, noting that global experiences demonstrate peace agreements involving women tend to be more inclusive, durable, and effective. "Nous devons lever les obstacles qui limitent encore leur accès aux espaces de décisions, renforcer leurs capacités en leadership, médiation et promouvoir un accompagnement fondé sur le le mentorat et le partage d’expériences," Ndayishimiye said, noting the necessity of removing barriers to women's participation and strengthening their leadership and mediation skills through mentorship. She concluded by urging collective action, stating, "A partir d’aujourd’hui, sachez que nous avons la responsabilité collective de transformer nos engagements en actions concrètes au service d’une Afrique plus pacifique, plus juste et plus inclusive."
Pathways to Effective Participation
Effective participation requires removing obstacles that limit women's access to decision-making spaces. Strengthening women's leadership and mediation capacities, alongside promoting mentorship and experience-sharing, was identified as key for advancing their role in peace processes. Participants stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved without equal access to justice for all. Regional institutions and partners were urged to bolster inclusive judicial systems. These systems should protect the rights of women and girls, actively combat discrimination, and ensure that no individual is excluded from peace and reconciliation efforts. The dialogue noted the necessity of these measures to build a more equitable and peaceful continent.
Burundi's Commitment to Agendas
Burundi, led by President Evariste Ndayishimiye, reiterated its commitment to the Youth, Peace and Security and Women, Peace and Security Agendas. The nation affirmed its dedication to advancing these frameworks, emphasizing their importance for peacebuilding efforts. This reaffirmation signals Burundi's continued support for initiatives that integrate young people and women into peace processes. The commitment aligns with broader continental objectives to enhance inclusive governance and conflict resolution strategies. Such support is seen as essential for fostering sustainable peace and stability within the region and across Africa.
Call for Action and Transformation
The event saw the participation of the First Lady of Burundi, Angeline Ndayishimiye, who also serves as the president of OPDD (Office of the First Lady for Development). She emphasized that sustainable peace cannot be built without the full and effective participation of women, especially young women. "Nous devons lever les obstacles qui limitent encore leur accès aux espaces de décisions, renforcer leurs capacités en leadership, médiation et promouvoir un accompagnement fondé sur le le mentorat et le partage d’expériences," Ndayishimiye stated, noting the need to remove barriers and enhance women's skills. She concluded by urging collective responsibility: "A partir d’aujourd’hui, sachez que nous avons la responsabilité collective de transformer nos engagements en actions concrètes au service d’une Afrique plus pacifique, plus juste et plus inclusive."