The African Peace and Security Union (APSU) is on a continental drive to promote positive masculinity in African societies. The peace initiative began the campaign during the African Women Day and is set to roll the agenda across the continent.

The He for She Campaign on positive masculinity across the continent was hosted on last African Women Day.

As part of its mandate to advance the implementation of policies, programs and initiatives that promote women peace and security agenda, the initiative encourages women participation in peacekeeping and conflict prevention in Africa and for the elimination of violence against women and girls on the continent.

“We have always aimed to advocate and raise awareness for more inclusion of women into the peace process and security matters on the continent. Our campaign this year brought together high level men in government leadership and representatives from organisations active in peace and security field,” said Roll Stephane Ngomat, chairperson of the initiative.

APSU representatives in the 54 African Countries launched a series of awareness campaign and popularisation on positive media interactions aims to achieve a conflict-free Africa, Prevent Genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and Women inclusion.

The lobby also support the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through a comprehensive and sustainable collaboration with Women’s Civil Society Organisations (CSO) and influential women around the continent in order to reinforce the engagement of women in peace and security in Africa.

According to Roll Stephane Ngomat, the He for She campaign created a dialogue between APSU and government officials for sharing experiences, best practices, achievements, challenges and perspectives on the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 and explored ways for delivering on member states commitments in peace and security.

“Our campaign this year also meeting also assessed the gaps in the interventions of APSU and governments in the realisation of the peace agenda for women in Africa. Additionally, it reviewed the extent to which our initiative and Governments have been able to adopt and domesticate African frameworks, policies and tools towards the achievement of a peaceful continent for women and girls,” explained Ngomat.

Desiré Laurent Malibanger, stated that, the He for She Campaign also forged strong partnership between Governments and APSU on issues related to Positive Masculinity, Women Peace and Security; shared experiences on the progress of women’s participation in peace process; assessed and acknowledged the lessons learned and brought to attention good practices in women participation in peacekeeping and conflict preventions.

The event also provided a sensitization campaign on the effectiveness of the positive masculinity for engagement between APSU and Governments on promoting peace, security and stability in Africa; Advocated and lobbied for effective implementation of Gender Peace and Security Programme (GPSP) and how can APSU utilise it in the Advancement of Positive Masculinity and WPS agenda in Africa.

As part of the resolutions, The participants called for an integrated action on the political, security, development and women’s right plan in order to establish synergy of actions for the sustainable development of Africa and its most vulnerable populations especially women to systematically promote the participation and involvement of women in peace processes and more broadly political processes and involve women in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts and the restoration of peace

The Campaign also raised awareness for the respect of the gender approach in all components of the peace keeping operations; support the initiative of women’s platforms working in the field of women’s protection and facilitate access to financial products (micro credit)

the Campaign called for the institutions to support the penal chain in the repression of the perpetrators of abuses against women and the strong commitments for funding the development and implementation of the national actions plans (NAP), UNSCR 1325 in particular with a view to ensure the participation of women in peace and security processes; strengthen the role of women in parliaments through training in conflict prevention and management techniques.

The Campaign finally called for the creation or strengthen of women’s watch unit and women’s organisations to contribute to early warning mechanism and develop the skills of women and young girls, including areas to which they traditionally do not have access such as Defence, Security, Governance and ensure the operationalisation of periodic reporting and monitoring mechanism of the concern institutions.

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