Women Leading Peace: Reflections from the African Women Voices for Peace Initiative
I’ve just returned from Nairobi, where I attended the African Women Voices for Peace initiative — the first of its kind. The gathering highlighted the vital role of women leading peace throughout Africa.
The space was filled with extraordinary women, each carrying her own story of conflict, resilience and leadership.
Meeting Evelyn from Uganda
There, I met Evelyn from Uganda. Abducted at just eleven years old, she spent nearly eleven years inside the Lord’s Resistance Army — forced into marriage with Joseph Kony and enduring unimaginable violence.
Yet Evelyn has transformed her experience into profound leadership.
After her release, she joined peace delegations urging Kony to end the war. Today, she chairs the Women’s Advocacy Network in northern Uganda, supporting war-affected women and their children, and pushing for recognition of women’s roles in peace and protection. Evelyn captured this work simply and powerfully:
“When women come together, we can forge peace — not just for our families, but for our nations.”
Evelyn from Uganda at the African Women Voices for Peace gathering
Why Women are Key to Achieving Peace
The purpose of the workshop was clear: to put women at the heart of peace across the region.
Women are often the first to experience the impacts of conflict. Despite being among the strongest advocates for rebuilding communities with lasting peace, they are still left out of the conversation.
Which is why the space brought together women leading change in their communities. These communities have been deeply affected by conflict and violence for decades or longer, making their work even more urgent and vital.
Women from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo all came together. Over several days, participants shared their stories, strategies, and practical solutions for strengthening peacebuilding and protection work.
Inspiration and Preparation
For me, this was the heart of the initiative: not just inspiration, but preparation. A generation of women leaders is walking away with the knowledge, confidence, and solidarity to keep protecting their communities and pushing for peace.
So what does that preparation actually look like? In Nairobi, the group highlighted what is already working — and what has the potential to flourish:
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Creating safe spaces where women can gather, speak openly about their experiences, and support one another without fear or judgement.
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Understanding vulnerabilities and anticipating risks, so communities can respond with strength and resilience when violence emerges.
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Learning protection strategies to keep themselves, their families, and their neighbours safe during threats.
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Building collective movements that amplify women’s voices and influence decision-makers to put peace and protection first.
The Beginning of a Movement
African Women Voices for Peace is just the beginning.
Women like Evelyn are shaping a more peaceful future for their families, communities and nations. Their courage, insight, and determination are already rippling across borders.
As this movement grows, so does the possibility of a future where women’s leadership in peace and protection is fully recognised and supported.
Together, we can help ensure more women around the world have the support they need to forge safer, brighter futures and pathways to peace.
If you’re interested in supporting this wider work, you can give a crucial donation to provide life-changing support for women escaping violence right now.