The African Union Commission’s Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security (OSE-WPS) has launched the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Network for Media Professionals—a pioneering initiative aimed at amplifying women’s voices and ensuring gender-responsive reporting on peace and security across Africa.
Dignitaries at the opening of the 3-day African Journalists’ Meeting on Women, Peace, and Security at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The launch, which took place at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, capped a three-day African Journalists’ Meeting on Women, Peace, and Security (September 29–October 1, 2025), held under the theme: “Strengthening Media Engagement to Amplify Women’s Voices in Peace and Security Across Africa.”
A press release by the AU says the training coincides with the 25th anniversary of the landmarkUN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, came ahead of the Beijing+30 milestones, the meeting brought together 20 journalists from across Africa to strengthen the link between media, policy, and women’s leadership in peacebuilding.
“The media is our most strategic partner in the mission to amplify the voices of women and secure a peaceful continent,” —Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security
A New Continental Voice for Gender-Sensitive Journalism
The establishment of the WPS Media Network marks a historic step in institutionalizing collaboration between the media and the African Union on peace and security. The network aims to ensure that African women’s contributions to conflict prevention, mediation, and post-conflict reconstruction are not only recognized but centered in the continent’s narrative of peace.
Mr. Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, Spokesperson of the African Union Commission, described the initiative as a “vital call to action,” urging journalists to challenge stereotypes and reposition women as “powerful agents of change, not mere victims.”
Participants received technical training on gender-sensitive reporting, investigative journalism, and digital storytelling, alongside practical sessions on theAU’s Continental Results Framework (CRF)—the principal tool for tracking Member States’ progress on WPS commitments.
Left to right: Abdarahmane Wone, Journalist and Training Facilitator and Daniel Massamba Meboya, Communication Lead at the AU Commission’s Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security (OSE-WPS), who initiated the African Journalists’ Meeting on WPS to amplify women’s voices and position the media as a key partner in advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda across Africa.
Building Bridges Between Media and Policy
Gerald Mitchell, Deputy Head of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU), emphasized the transformative role of journalism in shaping policy and public consciousness:
“The media has the power to influence policy and inspire change. We urge journalists to combine accuracy with empathy and visibility with responsibility.”
The training also spotlighted the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) and FemWise-Africa as key mechanisms for advancing women’s leadership in mediation and governance, helping participants link policy frameworks with on-the-ground realities.
Ambassador Olivia Leslie, Ireland’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, reaffirmed her country’s partnership with the AU and support for the WPS agenda:
“Gender equality and women’s participation in peace and security remain a key priority for Ireland. The AU continues to show real leadership in advancing this agenda, and Ireland is proud to stand with it.”
A cross-section of female participants at the training
A core focus of the convening was the media’s role in countering Misinformation-Disinformation- Malinformation (MDM)—a growing threat to women peacebuilders and journalists themselves. Participants were trained in digital fact-checking and ethical storytelling approaches to ensure that coverage of women’s peace efforts remains accurate, protective, and empowering.
“We are trained to cover crises, not the solutions,” said a West African journalist participant. “This training helped me realize that the story of a woman mediator is not a sidebar—it’s the core of the peace narrative.”
By the end of the convening, the journalists adopted the Charter of Addis Ababa, establishing the African Media Network on Women, Peace, and Security—a sustainable platform for collaboration, mentorship, and investigative reporting across borders.
The newly launched network’s strategic goals include:
Sustaining advocacy for women’s participation in peacebuilding
Establishing a central knowledge hub on AU policies and gender frameworks
Monitoring WPS National Action Plans through data-driven reporting
Countering misinformation through collaborative fact-checking
Reframing narratives around women’s leadership in peace and security
The journalists also committed to launching a first wave of cross-border investigative reports and regular multimedia campaigns aligned with AU peace and security milestones.
Partners and Support
The AU expressed appreciation to the Embassy of Ireland for its financial support, and to UNOAU, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the European Union (EU), and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) for their technical and institutional contributions to implementing the training.
The creation of the WPS Media Network means its members now constitute a “continental force” committed to ensuring the voices of women—the ultimate peacebuilders—resonate at the heart of Africa’s policy and media spaces for the next generation.
“A well-informed, gender-sensitive, and proactive media is essential for achieving the Africa We Want,” — H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula
