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The European Union participates at the launch of the Strategic Plan 2026–2028 of the African Union Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security

When spiders unite their webs, they can tie up a lion. Under this African proverb, Karin Stanghed, Chargé d'Affaires of the European Union (EU) Delegation to the African Union (AU), joined AU leadership, Member States, other partners and CSO representatives at the event setting a new framework for advancing women's meaningful participation in peace and security across Africa. The new Strategy Plan 2026–2028 of the AU Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS) is highly aligned to what the EU promotes, within the AU-EU partnership and at bilateral level: it focus on transforming commitments into implementation, strengthens African ownership, reinforces multilateral cooperation, and empowers women and practitioners on the ground. 

PEACE AND SECURITY
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Evidence is clear: when women participate meaningfully, peace processes are stronger. When women and girls are protected, institutions are more legitimate. And when recovery is inclusive, development is more durable. The Strategic Plan launched by the AU OSE-WPS responds to a persistent “conversion gap” between commitments and action, positioning itself the as a convener, coordinator and catalyst for continental action. It places women's participation and leadership at the centre of AU-led peace processes, while advancing priorities on protection, conflict prevention, recovery and reintegration, accountability and predictable WPS financing. It also sets a vision for a peace and security architecture that delivers more consistent, accountable and adequately resourced WPS outcomes.

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on WPS, expressed appreciation for the strong support of the leadership of the AU and partners, as this agenda requires collective ownership and engagement.

The Special Envoy noted that Africa does not lack commitments on WPS, pointing to the continent's normative foundations, policies, frameworks, National Action Plans, declarations and decisions. She stressed, however, that “the question before us is therefore no longer whether we have made the commitment. The question is whether we are delivering on it.”

On behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, speaking at the launch, H.E. Ambassador Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasised that Women, Peace and Security (WPS) cannot remain at the margins of institutional priorities, noting that it must be integrated into the way the AU approaches conflict prevention and mediation, peace support operations, governance, humanitarian action, recovery and reconstruction, and sustainable development. She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that implementation of the Strategic Plan is sustainably supported within institutional resources and priorities.

The EU message, delivered by Rita Fortunato Baptista, Political Officer at the EU Delegation to AU, reinforced this is an important and timely tool determined to close the gap between commitment and measurable change in the lives of women and girls. This should lead to women exercising meaningful leadership, to gender-responsive prevention and protection embedded in institutional systems. As the longest and largest partner for AU governance, peace and security architecture and AU-led peace efforts, the EU commended the ambitious to strengthen coordination and accountability. Together, EU, AU and UN, we are already delivering concrete women empowerment on the ground, such as via the Spotlight Initiative. 

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The current security and geopolitical uncertain environment reinforces the importance of the WPS Agenda as an operational tool that strengthens conflict prevention, crisis response, civilian protection, resilience and sustainable peace. This Strategic Plan is aligned with what the EU promotes under the WPS agenda. The EU has consistently supported women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peace processes, stronger protection against conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, gender-responsive mediation and early warning, and better accountability, reporting and financing. The revised EU WPS Action Plan and EU Gender Action Plan IV will remain closely interlinked, with mutually reinforcing objectives. The risks today are alarming: questioning fundamental rights and freedoms, changing conflict dynamics, violent extremism and protracted crises, shrinking civic space, climate and fiscal pressure, online violence and FIMI. Only with coordinated and measured action can we truly continue to “push back the pushback” on gender equality worldwide. 

The European Union reaffirmed the commitment to continue working with the AU, Member States, regional organisations and civil society to advance a WPS agenda that is properly financed, institutionally anchored, and truly transformative. The EU will remain a reliable partner in the journey ahead.