New York, 27 October 2025

At the ECOSOC Chamber of the United Nations Headquarters, leaders and advocates from around the world gathered for a high-level dialogue on “The Power of WPS: Advancing Inclusive Decision-Making in Peace and Security.”

The event brought together a distinguished panel including Ms. Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Hon. Dr. Emma Kantema, Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare of Namibia; Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly; Ms. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women; Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security; and Mme Bineta Diop, Co-Convenor of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN).

Mme Bineta Diop’s Call: Trusting Women’s Leadership for Peace

In her intervention, Mme Diop reaffirmed a central truth: peace cannot be sustained without women’s leadership at every level of decision-making.

“The future of peace in Africa and the world depends on our ability to trust women’s leadership and integrate their voices in every process of change. When African women stand together, peace finds a powerful voice.”

Drawing on her decades of experience as the African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (2014–2023) and now as Co-Convenor of the African Women Leaders Network, Mme Diop highlighted that women across the continent continue to drive transformation,  from local mediation tables to continental frameworks of governance and reform.

“From every region of our continent, women are raising their collective voice for inclusion, justice, and sustainable peace. Women and young women mediators are the bridge between conflict and reconciliation. Their inclusion is not symbolic, it is essential for peace that endures.”

A Continental Movement with Global Resonance

The discussion built on the enduring legacy of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, now marking 25 years since its adoption. Mme Diop underscored Africa’s leadership in translating this global framework into tangible action through National Action Plans, regional frameworks, and the African Union’s Continental Results Framework on WPS.

As conflicts evolve and multilateral systems face unprecedented tests, she stressed that inclusive decision-making must move from rhetoric to practice. This includes not only representation at negotiation tables but also investment in women’s leadership, protection, and economic empowerment as pillars of sustainable peace.

Partnerships for a Shared Future

Mme Diop’s intervention also echoed the spirit of partnership that defines the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) — a joint initiative of the African Union and UN Women, supported by The Compact and Member States.

Through AWLN chapters across Africa, women leaders are building coalitions for peace, mediating local conflicts, and shaping policies that place human dignity at the heart of governance.

The event reaffirmed that women’s participation is not an “add-on” but a strategic necessity for peace, justice, and development across Africa and the world.

Looking Ahead

As global leaders look toward the next chapter of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, Mme Diop called for renewed accountability and intergenerational solidarity.

“Our collective responsibility is to ensure that women are not only heard but heeded ,  not invited as guests to the table, but seated as architects of peace.”

Through continued advocacy, mentorship, and collaboration, she affirmed her commitment to advancing women’s full and equal participation in decision-making in Africa and beyond.