EU Supports AU Plan to Advance Women's Role in Peace Efforts

The European Union (EU) has joined African Union (AU) leaders, Member States, civil society representatives and international partners at the launch of the African Union Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS) Strategic Plan 2026–2028. The new plan seeks to strengthen women’s meaningful participation and leadership in peace and security efforts across Africa.

Karin Stanghed, Chargé d’Affaires of the EU Delegation to the AU, participated in the event, which established a new framework for turning commitments on women, peace and security into concrete action. The EU said the Strategic Plan closely aligns with its priorities under the AU-EU partnership, particularly in strengthening African ownership, improving multilateral cooperation and supporting women and practitioners working on the ground.

The Strategic Plan focuses on addressing the gap between existing commitments and their implementation. It positions the AU OSE-WPS as a convener, coordinator and catalyst for continental action, with priorities including women’s participation in AU-led peace processes, protection, conflict prevention, recovery and reintegration, accountability and sustainable financing for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

Key Highlights:

• EU joins AU launch of the Women, Peace and Security Strategic Plan 2026–2028
• The plan focuses on women’s participation, conflict prevention, protection and sustainable peace
• The EU reaffirms support for women’s leadership, accountability and empowerment across Africa

H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the Special Envoy on WPS to AU, emphasized the need for collective ownership and engagement in advancing the agenda in her opening remarks. She said that there are already policies, frameworks, National Action Plans, declarations and decisions in support of WPS in Africa, but emphasized that we need to move beyond the commitments to implementation.

WPS has to be part of the overall institutional priorities of the AU, said Selma Malika Youssoufi, H.E. Ambassador and Deputy Chair of the AU Commission, on behalf of the Chairperson of the Commission H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf. These include peace support operations, conflict prevention and mediation, humanitarian action, sustainable development, governance and recovery and reconstruction.

Rita Fortunato Baptista, Political Officer at the EU Delegation to the AU, said the Strategic Plan was a timely document to bridge the gap between commitments and tangible progress on women and girls' lives. The EU also emphasized the need for meaningful women leadership, gender-responsive prevention and protection, more coordination and increased accountability.

The EU has always advocated for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace processes, the prevention of conflict-related SGBV, gender-inclusive mediation, better early warning systems, and better accountability, reporting and funding.

This launch occurs in the context of multifaceted security and geopolitical challenges such as evolving conflict dynamics, violent extremism, prolonged conflicts, the narrowing of civic space, climate and fiscal crisis, online violence and foreign information manipulation and interference. On this background, the EU reiterated that the WPS agendas continue to be relevant as regards to conflict prevention, crisis response, civilian protection, resilience and sustainable peace.

The EU reiterated its support for the AU, Member States, regional organizations and civil society to continue to promote Women, Peace and Security agenda that is sufficiently funded, institutionally supported and has measurable impact. The EU also mentioned the existing cooperation with the AU and UN, including the Spotlight Initiative, as a good practice example of initiatives that can be implemented on the ground to support women empowerment.