September 5, 2024
Cotonou, Benin – Mrs. AGUEH Dossi Sekonnou Gloria, President of the Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD), was a speaker at the Women in Security Africa (WiS-A) Conference, hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Benin and U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA).
The conference, held in Cotonou, Benin, from September 4-5, 2024, convened military, government, and civil society leaders to discuss the pivotal role of women in peacebuilding and security. The WiS-A Conference is aligned with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which recognizes the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls. Participants explored how gender impacts the response to regional security threats and how to leverage the important role of women in responding to those threats.
As a leading advocate for women’s rights and gender equality in sub-Saharan Africa, President Gloria was the key speaker on Panel 3: Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Action, where she addressed the question of how to bridge the gap between global frameworks like UNSCR 1325 and local-level action.
“The Women, Peace, and Security framework is essential for understanding the complexities of armed conflict and its consequences on societies,” said President Gloria. “By emphasizing the specific experiences of women, this framework reveals the deep inequalities exacerbated by conflicts and the resulting violence.”
The conference focused on:
- The impact of global FPS frameworks on local populations
- How local efforts influence national, regional, and global policy frameworks
- The benefits of the FPS framework for men and boys
- The role of women in preventing extremist violence and building sustainable peace
- Strengthening regional cooperation on WPS issues
By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the WiS-A Conference aimed to foster collaboration and promote the implementation of effective Women, Peace, and Security initiatives in Coastal West Africa.
RFLD’s participation in the WiS-A Conference is a testament to the organization’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and promoting gender equality in sub-Saharan Africa. Through its advocacy and programs, RFLD continues to make a significant impact on the lives of women and girls in the region.
About RFLD: The Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD) is a leading organization working to advance women and girls’ rights in sub-Saharan Africa.
About the WiS-A Conference: The Women in Security Africa (WiS-A) Conference is a platform for sharing best practices, building partnerships, and fostering a more inclusive security sector in Africa. By bringing together military, government, and civil society leaders, the conference aims to strengthen the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
About SOCAFRICA: U.S. Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) is a sub-unified command of USSOCOM under the operational control of U.S. Africa Command. SOCAFRICA’s primary responsibility is to exercise operational control over theater-assigned or allocated Air Force, Army, Marine or Navy special operations forces conducting operations, exercises and security cooperation in the USAFRICOM area of responsibility. SOCAFRICA conducts all Special Forces missions and works closely with partner components, agencies and nations to protect U.S. lives and interests in Africa. The command is building tactical and operational capacity to combat Violent Extremist Organizations in key partner countries, and contributing to regional security structures to create stability and combat trans-regional threats.
