Governments and institutions must involve women in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction, participants at a Gender Pre-forum that opened in Kigali yesterday have said.

The African Union, which is at the forefront of organising the Gender Pre forum, seeks a holistic understanding of vulnerabilities and challenges women face in conflict situations along with their role in building democratic governance and peace on the continent.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullahi, the AU commissioner for political affairs, said the Gender Pre- forum is dedicated to examining trends, challenges and opportunities for the effective participation of women in democratisation and peace building in Africa.

"While we concede that gender is not only about women, we made a strategic choice to focus on women and girls at this forum, given the specific and particular vulnerabilities and issues faced by women in conflict situations, democratic governance and peace building,” Dr Abdullahi said.

"It’s also in recognition of the fact that women suffer the most in times of conflict and yet remain relegated at the periphery of initiatives aimed at building peace and democratic governance.”

She said the choice of Rwanda as venue for the forum was because the country has ensured active participation at all levels of women in peace building, leadership and development.

Lamin Manneh, the UN resident coordinator, said Rwanda offers a good example in fighting violence and the empowerment of women and girls.

"We commend AU for taking the continental lead in silencing guns. In many countries, women still need to be empowered to actively participate in governance and peace building in their countries and communities,” Manneh said.

Call for action to silence guns

The outcomes of the Pre-forum will feed into discussions of the high level dialogue that will take place in Dakar, Senegal, at the end of the month.

"Considering the urgent need to silence the guns across Africa, it is a call for action for the armed groups to lay down their weapons and participate actively in the development of their nations,” Manneh said.

"It’s a call for action to all governments in Africa to build democratic institutions that allow all citizens to express their voices especially women and the young ladies in the development of their countries.”

Oda Gasinzigwa, the minister for gender and family promotion, said the forum is a clear manifestation of Africa’s commitment to ensure a broad based participation of all its citizens’ women inclusive in the democratic governance and peace building.

"Africa is faced with challenges of insecurity in some countries caused by governance deficit.

The consequences of conflict range from loss of life, traumatised population, vicious cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. In these destructive conflicts women bear the great brunt,” Gasinzigwa said.

She said in post-conflict reconstruction, women, once given opportunity, play a leading role in reconciliation, conflict resolution and peace building.

The two-day meeting is discussing the role of women in silencing the guns and enhancing democratic governance values in Africa and beyond.

In the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Rwandan women have been at the forefront of national healing, reconciliation, socio-economic transformation as well as decision making at all levels of development.

"This has been possible because of political will at the highest level that has translated into enabling legal, policy and institutional frameworks for gender equality and women empowerment,” the minister added.

She said the issue of gender equality and women’s participation should be an integral part of Africa’s values.

"It is our obligation to empower men, women, girls and boys to a level they can play their rightful role in democratisation processes, peace building and development,” Gasinzigwa said.

The two-day forum is organised by the AU Commission in partnership and collaboration with UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, UN Women, Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, and Rwanda Governance Board.