Africa-Press – Angola. The Angolan ambassador to Germany, Balbina da Silva, demanded, this Friday, in Luanda, the presence of women in peace negotiation processes in countries involved in armed conflicts, as they are the most affected.
The diplomat who was speaking at the “I International Women’s Forum for Peace and Democracy”, said that it was urgent to create spaces for women to be part of conversations to achieve peace in conflicts.
With Binto Keita, head of MONUSCO (United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo), Osvalda Joana, Ambassador of Mozambique to Angola, Bineta Diop, African Union (AU) Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, and Maria Manuel, AU Commissioner for Human and Peoples’ Rights, Balbina da Silva, was part of the Panel on “The Role of Women in Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention.
He recalled that whenever women get involved in conflict resolution, the results are satisfactory, among other reasons, because they are the managers of life.
“We join our voices to that of other ladies to achieve our objectives, as women’s struggle is global”, she emphasized.
On the other hand, Bineta Biop, praised the figure of the former president of Liberia, Ellen Sirleaf, for her role in the pacification of the country.
She cited the history of Africa, where women went through slavery, colonialism, apartheid and even genocide, hence their proven resilience over the years.
He suggested the need to close the pyramid, proposing women to lead the peace talks.
The African Union (AU) commissioner, Maria Manuel, reiterated that women, children and the elderly are the ones who suffer most in any armed conflict.
As an example, he gave the war in Sudan where every two minutes a girl or woman is raped.
Opened on Thursday by the Vice-President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, the forum addressed, over the two working days, five panels, highlighting globalization in the process of empowerment, technological innovation, formalization as a mechanism for inclusion and food security and climate change.
Still inside the forum, there are three group exhibitions that can be visited at the venue, at the António Agostinho Neto Memorial and at the Military History Museum.
Respectively “Resonances”, “The life, work and legacy of António Agostinho Neto” and “Military History of Angola”.
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