The President of Guinea-Bissau and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General exchange views with women and youth on their contribution to peace and security in the subregion

Bissau, 23 November 2021 – H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and Mahamat Saleh ANNADIF, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, chaired on 23 November 2021, the Regional Open Day on United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on Gender, women, youth, peace and security. 

The Open Day brought together nearly a hundred women and young leaders from West Africa and the Sahel, including those from the rural area as well as actors of civil society organizations, representatives of regional organizations, with the participation of Mrs. Maria da Conceicao, Minister of Women, Family and Social Solidarity of Guinea-Bissau; Ms. Suzi Carla Barbosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of Guinea-Bissau; Ms. Amina Priscille Longoh, Minister of Women, Family and Child Protection of the Republic of Chad and President of the G5 Sahel Council of Ministers; Mr. Emmanuel OHIN, Ambassador, Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Guinea-Bissau.

H.E. Umaro Sissoco Embaló stressed the importance of women's participation in the country's political, social and economic life. "The future of a country cannot be built without women. We must all together work for peace, democracy and development," Embaló said.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Mahamat Saleh ANNADIF said that this day is an opportunity "to articulate perspectives for the region to better contribute to national and regional efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and raise awareness of policies and programmes to facilitate the full participation of women in all peace processes, political transitions and other aspects of the development of the countries of the region".

Mr. ANNADIF also welcomed the progress made in the implementation of Resolutions 1325 (2000) and subsequent in West Africa and the Sahel, including the increased participation of women in decision-making and political life, and the adoption of laws and measures to protect women and girls. "All these positive developments require us to advocate for the effective implementation of the laws on gender-based violence, parity and quotas voted by most countries in the region," he added.

During the meeting, President Embaló and Mr. ANNADIF exchanged with women and young leaders on new initiatives to be put in place to prevent conflicts and consolidate peace, and ways to accelerate the implementation of the "Women, Peace and Security" programme in West Africa and the Sahel.

Women and young people presented their grievances to both authorities. Among other things, they expressed their wish to see the Heads of State give their voice during the Summits to discuss issues that concern them.

Ms. Amina Priscille Longoh, insisted on the need for all countries in the region to have a national action plan for the implementation of the Resolution 1325. "It is also imperative for all G5 Sahel countries to develop and implement innovative approaches in close collaboration with their technical and financial partners to address the multiple challenges to achieving peace and security in the region," she said.

In response to the concerns expressed by women, Mr. ANNADIF reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue to advocate and support all initiatives and action plans towards the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions. "I will continue to advocate with states to get involved and enforce the laws that have been passed," he said.

Organized since 2010 by UNOWAS, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the G5 Sahel, the Mano River Union (MRU), peace missions, UN Women and other United Nations entities in the region, the Regional Open Days are a framework for exchange where women and young leaders share with senior UN officials and regional organizations their experiences, their concerns and priorities in the framework of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000) and subsequent resolutions on women, peace and security.