Pillar of Democracy and Political Governance The APRM tool details specific indicators in this pillar for the assessment process, including constitutional democracy and the rule of law, prevention and reduction of intra and inter-state conflicts, promotion and protection of civil and political rights, and promotion and protection of the rights of women, children, youth and vulnerable groups. Three UN security council resolutions on women, peace and security feature aspects of elections, security sector, justice and Demobilisation, Disarmament and Rehabilitation (DDR).187 These are critical areas that have a correlation with the APRM pillar on Democracy and Political Governance (DPG). These indicators speak to the majority of the women, peace and security themes often raised in regard to gender and peacebuilding. Priority DPG issues relating to gender and peacebuilding Critical rights stand at the centre of women`s ability to participate in leadership and political office pre-conflict, during and after conflict. The political rights of women as a specific category are given special attention within the APRM questionnaire in this Pillar and in the Pillar on Socio-economic Development. In the DPG pillar, the focus is on women’s leadership and political rights. APRM probes the effectiveness of national measures in place to enhance the role of women in the democratic governance process and to protect and promote their rights. In respective country review reports, APRM advocates for women’s inclusion in the political structures, processes and systems in the executive, legislature and judiciary and local government level in line with AU policy instruments. Several NPoAs developed indicate substantial responses to address gaps in the political rights of women, with commitments to include special measures for affirmative action in the elective and non-elective offices. This is important because women’s underrepresentation in public office especially at the higher echelons is a structural issue of gender inequality in most countries. Liberia undertook a deliberate strategy to appointment women as ministers of finance, police, commerce and defence as a 187 Sabine Freizer, ‘Enhancing Women’s Engagement in Peace, Security and Recovery` UN Women (undated) 68