Sierra Leone Hosts Regional Commemoration of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, Spotlighting Women’s Leadership in Peace and Conflict Prevention

Women peacebuilders, government representatives, regional institutions, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society and young leaders from across the Mano River Union region will convene in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from 12 to 13 November 2026 for a regional commemoration of the 26th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Held under the theme “Effective implementation of WPS and women’s leadership for conflict prevention in the MRU region,” the two-day event will take place at the Sierra Palms Beach Hotel in Lumley, Freetown.

The commemoration will provide a regional platform to reflect on progress in advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and regional stability across the Mano River Union region.

The programme will bring together stakeholders from Government, women’s peace networks, United Nations agencies and development partners in the Mano River Union countries-Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Guinea to reaffirm their commitment to moving the Women, Peace and Security agenda from commitments to effective implementation.

Discussions will focus on national experiences in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda and National Action Plans, as well as emerging peace and security challenges facing the region. Participants will explore women’s leadership in preventive diplomacy and early warning, digital peace and the protection of women leaders, border security and trafficking, and the security of women traders.

On the second day, participants will engage in breakout sessions examining community-based monitoring and WPS accountability; women traders, border peace and economic security; community women’s leadership in conflict prevention; and youth-women alliances for peacebuilding.

Women peacebuilders will also share lived experiences and lessons from communities across borders through a dedicated storytelling session, highlighting the contribution of women to community resilience and sustainable peace.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.