Isis Women’s International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) in partnership with Club de Madrid (CdM), Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) and Institute for Security Studies (ISS) held a high-level mission to Kampala, Uganda on Women’s Leadership for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa from 3rd to 5th November 2009. Women's Statement
This high-level mission led by Former Prime Minister of Latvia, H.E Valdis Birkhavs brought together 40 women leaders and women’s organisations from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland, North Sudan, South Sudan and North and North Eastern Uganda to discuss the security situation in the region, the implementation of Peace, Recovery and Development Plan for Northern Uganda (PRDP) and the Uganda National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, 1820 and the Goma Declaration.
The analysis of these frameworks resulted in a round table between the women and the Presidential Affairs Committee of the Parliament represented by the Acting Chair, Hon. Loyce Kiryapawo, the Office of the Prime Minister represented by the Under Secretary, Pacification and Development, Flavia Waduwa, as well as other stakeholders.
The Women’s Leadership for Peace and Security in the Greater Horn of Africa project seeks to build women’s skills and capacity in peace and security related issues, to foster networking opportunities for women in the region and create forums in which women can engage with officials from national and international institutions charged with peace and security.
The Kampala high-level mission therefore concluded with three pertinent messages to the Government of Uganda and other stakeholders;
Commitment to Peace in the PRDP
No involvement of grassroots women, no successful PRDP
Peace keeping missions live up to your commitments on the Greater Horn of Africa