The involvement of women in the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a crucial issue and was highlighted during a round table organized by the Sauti ya mama Mukongomania Association in Kinshasa. Faced with the persistent conflict situation, this meeting brought together women from different provinces facing the ravages of armed conflicts, including the provinces of Kivu, Tanganyika and Ituri. The objective of this round table, in partnership with the Collective of Women’s Associations for Development, was to explore the application of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
Resolution 1325, one of the UN’s major initiatives in terms of gender equality and women’s participation in conflict resolution, is at the heart of the discussions. This resolution enshrines the essential role of women in peacebuilding and international security. Indeed, including women’s voices in negotiation and mediation processes is essential to achieve sustainable solutions to armed conflicts.
Annie Matundu, Gender Advisor at the Ministry of Gender, Family and Children, highlights the importance of women’s participation in peace discussions, particularly in conflict zones. She highlights the urgent need to integrate women into the negotiation tables to ensure balanced representation and consideration of women’s needs and perspectives.
Isabelle Pendeza, President of the Collective of Women’s Associations for Development, emphasizes the central role of women as the first victims of armed conflicts. This round table therefore aims to promote women’s voices in peace processes, recognizing their ability to not only identify the specific problems they face, but also to actively contribute to building sustainable peace.
The participation of key actors, such as the United States Ambassador to the DRC, demonstrates the importance given to this issue at the international level. Ultimately, this initiative aims to strengthen the place of women in discussions on peace and security, recognizing their essential role as catalysts of change and key actors in promoting a culture of peace.
This roundtable, which took place from July 3 to 4, marks a significant step forward in recognizing the involvement of women in building inclusive and sustainable peace in the DRC. It highlights the need to place women’s perspectives at the heart of peace and security initiatives, thus providing a framework conducive to the emergence of a more just and egalitarian society for all.