About WIPSEN-AFRICA

The Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa) was established on 8th May, 2006 under the laws of the Republic of Ghana as a women-focused, women-led Pan-African Non-Governmental Organization with the core mandate to promote women's strategic participation and leadership in peace and security governance in Africa. Over the last two decades and especially since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in October 2000, women the world over have been engaged in activities that aim at (re)building particularly war-torn societies, restoring relationships and promoting social cohesion.  In Africa, the involvement of women in peacebuilding gained prominence during the two decades of violent conflicts/wars that saw and resulted in the mobilization of women across all sectors to find lasting solutions and take action. Women's responses to this challenging call to action were adhoc, varied and not necessarily based on any specialized training; but were largely driven by the sheer will to survive, resilience/determination to see the violence and suffering cease. Ranging from local/grassroots actions such as sit-ins, picketing, body barricades of venues of peace talks, etc, to high-level lobbying, advocacy and in a few instances participation in peace talks, women simply took chances, prayed and hoped that positive outcomes would be realized.

Yet despite these efforts, the visibility gained and contributions made to conflict management, resolution and peacebuilding, in the aftermath of civil wars/violent conflicts there is a tendency to again overlook or minimally consider the positions, interests and needs of women when the agendas for new/emerging structures are being developed. This insouciance of women's issues and concerns is linked to their status in societies and their sex. Women, particularly in Africa, do not enjoy equal status with men; they live in cultures of violence and discrimination that are exacerbated during violent conflicts and reinforced by the harsh realities and disregard of women and girls that is prevalent in everyday African societies. Notwithstanding, it behooves women to sustain the gains that have been made as well as take initiatives to ensure: 1) that their concerns are incorporated into local, national, sub-regional, regional and global agendas for peace and development; and 2) their strategic involvement and participation in public governance (particularly peace and security) processes.

For WIPSEN-Africa, such strategic engagement must be systematic and requires proactivity, access to timely and accurate information, knowledge of the issue area, and specialized skills. It demands that the erstwhile adhoc, impulsive and reactionary nature of women's activism be structured and informed. This not only necessitates capacity strengthening and grassroots mobilization, but also action-oriented research, policy influencing, documentation, information sharing, and strategic dialogue, networking and partnership building. This is the raison d'être for the establishment of WIPSEN-Africa, and the organization was founded to professionalize and institutionalize women peace and security in Africa. WIPSEN-Africa is a network organization and collaborates with partner, associate and affiliate organizations across the Continent and in the Diaspora to implement its mandate.

Vision

A violence free, non-discriminatory continent that fosters peaceful coexistence, equality, collective ownership and the full participation of particularly women in decision making on peace and human security.

Mission

To institutionalize and mainstream women, peace and security  by enhancing women's leadership capacities and promoting constructive, innovative and collaborative approaches to non-violent transformation of conflicts, peacebuilding and human security in Africa.

Goal

To enable, enhance, and sustain African women's right to participation and leadership in fostering human security, sustainable peace, and development.

Objectives

WIPSEN-Africa has four broad strategic objectives that define the parameters for its operations. Namely, to:

1. Provide a platform for women across all levels of African societies to exchange, share, and harmonize strategies for women's leadership and build coalitions to promote peace and security in Africa.
2. Strengthen women's capacities to sustain their active engagement in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, peace support operations, and human security at policy, research, and praxis levels.
3. Promote the twin approach of mainstreaming gender in peace and security mechanisms and institutions while at the same time mainstreaming peace and security in all gender mechanisms, policies, and institutions.
4. Influence policy development and implementation on women, peace and security in Africa through rigorous research, strategic advocacy, and documentation.