The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) held two key meetings in Kinshasa to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and reaffirm regional commitment to gender equality.
The Ordinary Meeting of ICGLR Gender Focal Points, held on 31 October 2025, brought together national representatives, the ICGLR Regional Women Forum (RWF), and partners to assess progress on WPS implementation across Member States. Countries reported notable achievements, including the adoption of National Action Plans aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, expanded women’s representation in governance, and strengthened legal frameworks against gender-based violence. However, challenges remain, such as limited funding, sociocultural barriers, and the impact of ongoing conflicts on women’s participation.
The meeting adopted a key regional instrument — the 2nd Generation Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2026–2030) and took note of progress on the ICGLR Regional Gender Barometer II, which together provide a roadmap and monitoring framework for gender equality efforts in the region. Delegates also discussed the revitalisation of the Regional Women’s Forum Secretariat and adopted recommendations for its reactivation.
On 1 November 2025, Ministers in Charge of Gender convened under the chairmanship of H.E. Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, Minister of Social Action, Family and Gender Promotion of Angola. The session was officially opened by H.E. Micheline Ombae Kalama, DRC Minister of Gender, Family, and Child, and attended by high-level officials, including H.E. Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the DRC, who represented the Prime Minister.
Both meetings coincided with the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, marking a renewed regional commitment to transforming women’s leadership in peacebuilding and governance.