From 13–14 May, SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga participated in the annual Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Focal Points Network Thematic Meeting on “Inclusive Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding,” co-hosted by Norway and Japan in Oslo, Norway. The WPS Focal Points Network remains a key platform for advancing gender equality in peace processes globally. The meeting convened over 100 participants, including government representatives, foreign affairs officials from Japan and Norway, as well as representatives from the African Union, UN Women and UN DPPA.

In his opening remarks, the SRSG reaffirmed the need for inclusive peacemaking and peacebuilding initiatives. He emphasised the bold steps made by the African Union in advancing women’s direct participation in peace processes as central to the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and the wider WPS agenda. He also recalled that in 2023, building on his five WPS Goals the AU adopted a minimum of one-third women in mediation and peace processes as a first step towards parity (50/50) in political and electoral processes (S/2023/725, para 104).

The SRSG also moderated a panel discussion on “Tools, Instruments and Entry Points for Policy Implementation”, where he stressed that as the international mediation landscape evolves, no single actor leads peace processes alone and that comprehensive peace agreements are increasingly rare. He invited participants to reflect on how to leverage existing tools to strengthen women’s participation in peace efforts. UN Women, DPPA, IGAD, and civil society shared practical insights and emerging strategies.