2019, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) unequivocally identified structural gender-based inequalities as fundamental root causes of conflict-related sexual violence.19 As a sign of commitment and based on the recommendations of the Panel of the Wise, the PSC has dedicated an annual open session to conflict-related sexual violence to foster debate on sustainable solutions, required reforms and best practices. Despite the AU commitment to searching for durable solutions to conflict from a gender perspective, country trends in peace processes provide a dialectically juxtaposed picture. On the one hand is women’s essential work in peacebuilding at the community, grassroot and even local government level. This is set against the backdrop of a scattering of women as observers on the peripheries of male led and dominated formal peace processes, where a handful of women are co-opted or nominated through intense lobbying by women’s groups. At the Women's Peace Conference of Zanzibar, 1999, the ensuing Zanzibar Declaration decried the male domination of peace negotiations despite women's efforts and initiatives to build consensus and dialogue.20 African women noted the underrepresentation of women in senior positions in political, peace and security institutions at the national, regional and international level, low support for their leadership roles and inadequate funding.21 Despite the watershed moment ushered in by the ground breaking UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, subsequent security council resolutions note the low momentum towards attaining the goals of UNSCR 1325,22 the ‘too slow progress’ in greater participation of women in peace processes and integration of gender issues in peace processes.23 UNSCR 2242 (2015)24 and eight other resolutions of the security council continue to clamour for both sexes i.e. women and men to be engaged in prevention and resolution of armed conflict, peacebuilding and post conflict situations. UNSCR 2242 calls for the dismantling of barriers to fully realising the 19 Peace and Security Council Press Statement PSC/PR/BR. (DCCCLXII) 23 July 2013 Zanzibar Declaration on Women and a Culture of Peace adopted by a Pan-African conference in Zanzibar on 17-20 May 1999. 21 S/RES/2242 22 UNSCR 1820 (2008) 23 UN General Assembly ‘Women’s participation in peacebuilding: Report of the Secretary-General’ A/65/354– S/2010/466, 7 September 2010 24 Adopted by the Security Council at its 7533rd meeting, on 13 October 2015 S/RES/2242 (2015) 20 19