The AUC, through the Youth for Peace Africa and the Gender Peace and Security Programmes of the PAPS Department, launched an Award Ceremony at the AU Headquarters, to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of youth and women in promoting peace, human rights, gender equality and empowerment. The Award is intended to raise awareness and promote greater understanding of the vital role Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), particularly women and youth networks, play in peacebuilding efforts including conflict prevention, management and resolution as well as post-conflict reconstruction and development. It is also intended to encourage and promote CSOs that are engaged in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and YPS agenda in Africa. The winners representing six women-led and youth-led organizations include: Women's Network for Peace, Burundi; Rural Women Peace Link, Kenya; SOS Urgence, Mauritania; 4 H Zimbabwe Foundation, Zimbabwe; Local Youth Corner, Cameroon; and Eshet Children and Youth Development Organization, Ethiopia. This award is in line with the AU’s commitment to ‘leaving no one behind’, as part of its aspiration to build a people-centred community and deliver on the aspiration of Agenda 2063 for shared prosperity and well-being, for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women and youth are realized.