Peace agreements: the creation of a women’s observatory recommended at a workshop

Kinshasa, June 1^st, 2026 (CPA).- The creation of a joint observatory for women and young people has been recommended in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to ensure that gender is systematically taken into account in all peace agreements, following a workshop. “We are pleased with the smooth conclusion of our discussions, which have resulted in recommendations that will be presented at a high-level strategic meeting on peace in the Great Lakes region, scheduled to take place in Nairobi in the coming days,” has declared Ms Elodie Ntamunzinda, the facilitator. “The other recommendations include the institutionalisation of cross-border feminist diplomacy, aiming to strengthen the dialogue between women from DRC, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, as well as the mobilisation of local expertise, notably through the establishment of a database of expert female mediators and the strengthening of synergies with the private sector,” she has added. She has explained that this meeting aimed to strengthen support for peace process facilitators by improving the advisory committee’s technical and political support for regional initiatives. “The aim was to consolidate the contributions of women and strengthen their participation in peace processes,” has said Ms Ntamuzinda. “The building of a sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region requires the active involvement of women in mediation, dialogue and decision-making mechanisms on peace and security,” has she added. The consultative workshop was organised by the Ministry in charge of Gender, Family and Children (GFAE) in partnership with UN Women, the Gender Section of MONUSCO and women members of Congolese civil society women’s organisations, with the support of the Norwegian Embassy in DRC.