FOSDA emphasizes need for women participation, leadership at BMS9

The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) has reaffirmed the importance of women’s meaningful participation and leadership in small arms control, disarmament and violence prevention efforts during the Ninth Biennial Meeting of States (BMS9) on the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI).

Speaking during the meeting, Theodora Williams Anti, Executive Director of FOSDA, emphasized that sustainable solutions to armed violence cannot be achieved without the active participation, leadership and expertise of women at all levels of decision-making.

The call comes at a time when armed conflicts, violent extremism, terrorism and organized crime continue to affect millions of people globally, with women and girls often experiencing disproportionate and gender-specific impacts of armed violence.

A Hard-Fought Victory for Gender Language
One of the most closely contested issues during negotiations at BMS9 was the inclusion of language recognizing the gendered impacts of small arms and light weapons and the importance of women’s participation in preventing illicit arms proliferation and armed violence.

Several delegations sought to weaken or remove references to gender and women from the outcome document, prompting strong advocacy efforts from civil society organizations and supportive Member States.

For FOSDA and many partners within the global civil society community, retaining this language is important to ensuring that the realities experienced by women and girls affected by armed violence are acknowledged and addressed within international arms control efforts.

“Women’s participation in disarmament and arms control is not a symbolic issue. It is a peace and security imperative,” Williams Anti stated. “Women are not only affected by armed violence; they are leaders, advocates, mediators and peacebuilders whose contributions are essential to preventing conflict and building sustainable peace.”

Following extensive negotiations, Member States agreed to retain language recognizing the gendered impacts of small arms and light weapons and encouraging women’s leadership in preventing illicit arms proliferation and armed violence.

Women at the Centre of Peace and Security
FOSDA noted that the retention of gender-responsive language is consistent with the broader objectives of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, which recognizes the critical role of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and security governance.

Across Africa, women continue to play leading roles in mediation, community peacebuilding, early warning systems and efforts to prevent violence. Yet they remain underrepresented in many national, regional and international decision-making processes related to arms control and security policy.

The organization stressed that meaningful participation goes beyond representation. It requires creating opportunities for women to influence policy, shape implementation strategies and contribute to monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Strengthening International and Regional Commitments
FOSDA emphasized that promoting women’s participation and leadership is essential to the effective implementation of key international and regional frameworks, including the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UNPoA), the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials, the United Nations Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the AU Silencing the Guns.

These frameworks recognize that sustainable peace and security require inclusive approaches that reflect the experiences, perspectives and expertise of all members of society. They also underscore the importance of ensuring women’s meaningful participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, security governance and arms control processes.

The continued inclusion of gender-responsive language within the BMS9 outcome document reinforces international commitments to addressing the differentiated impacts of armed violence and promoting more inclusive and effective arms control policies.

FOSDA believes that integrating gender perspectives into small arms control is not only a matter of equality and representation; it is critical to improving policy outcomes, strengthening community resilience and advancing sustainable peace and security.

FOSDA further urged governments to mainstream gender perspectives in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of small arms control policies and programmes, while investing in the capacity and leadership of women working across the peace and security sector.

As the international community continues efforts to combat the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, FOSDA believes that strengthening women’s participation and leadership will remain essential to building safer, more peaceful and more resilient societies.

The future of arms control must be inclusive, representative and responsive to the realities of those most affected by armed violence.