Women, Peace, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel: A UN Security Council Statement

Deep Concern Over Instability in West Africa and the Sahel

• 🌍 Signatories of the Shared Commitments on Women, Peace and Security express profound concern over the instability in West Africa and the Sahel and its devastating impact on women and girls.
• 🔑 Reaffirmation of commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda as crucial for achieving peace, sustainable development, and security in the region.

Intersecting Challenges and Disproportionate Impacts

• 📉 The region faces interconnected challenges including the erosion of democratic governance, limited economic opportunities, and food/water insecurity, leading to transnational crime and displacement.
• ⚠️ Growing threats of terrorism and climate change pose significant risks to international peace and security, disproportionately affecting women and girls.
• 🚫 Violent extremist groups in the Sahel impose severe social controls, restricting women's rights, public participation, and enforcing discriminatory norms, often resorting to sexual and gender-based violence.
• ⚖️ Democratic backsliding and unconstitutional changes of government further restrict women's civic space and participation.

Resilience and Environmental Stress

• 🌱 Despite challenges, the Sahel demonstrates remarkable resilience, though it remains environmentally vulnerable with increasing floods and desertification.
• 🌾 These environmental pressures cause significant losses in livestock and crops, driving displacement and particularly affecting women's livelihoods, rights, and agency.

Calls for Action and Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding

• 🤝 Governments and regional actors are urged to ensure the full, equal, safe, and meaningful participation of women in political and transitional governance processes.
• 🎯 Gender equality is central to national and regional peacebuilding, early warning systems, and climate risk assessments, consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 2242.
• ⚖️ Demand for access to justice and investigations into all cases of sexual and gender-based violence, ensuring comprehensive support for victims and survivors.
• 💰 Recommendation to allocate at least 15% of funding for preventing violent extremism towards advancing gender equality.
• 💡 Importance of gender-responsive peacebuilding and strengthening UN capacities to support local organizations and women-led initiatives.
• 🚀 Call to extend and review the mandate of UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) to fully integrate WPS priorities.
• ✅ Women and youth are essential partners for peace and recovery, and ensuring their protection, participation, and leadership is necessary for lasting peace.