Together with Member States, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) can develop monitoring frameworks to track implementation of the Nation Action Plans on UNSCR 1325 convergence towards the objectives of the women, peace and security agenda. RECs can furthermore encourage more Member States to join the APRM governance mechanisms and undertake reviews with a view to converging on governance and peacebuilding standards. STRENGTHENING NATIONAL PROCESSES: What processes need to be prioritised and strengthened? By working with member states to identify gaps in implementing, monitoring and reporting on important areas of governance, the APRM can prioritise gender and peace building measures in the following areas: Democracy and Political Governance • The AU Panel of the Wise have recommended an increment of women in mediation by 50 percent at all levels, including electoral bodies, constitutional courts and other critical areas of public office. This standard of gender parity should inform reviews of women’s participation. • Guaranteeing women’s equal participation in election processes as candidates and voters is important in ensuring gender responsive leadership. Where possible, special measures of affirmative action should be integrated within constitutions and political party laws, funding mechanisms and civic education programmes. • National Action Plans (NAPs) on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 should be adopted by all countries and integrated within the APRM National Programmes of Action (NPoA). Such programmes will best be sustained when mainstreamed within country development planning frameworks and implemented and monitored at national and local government level. • Vibrant civil societies and peacebuilders should be supported to continue their work in peacebuilding, and implementation and monitoring of NAPs and NPoAs. Laws that enable civil society to work without restrictions should be promoted. • APRM review processes provide critical broad-based state-society dialogue platforms through which civil society organisations converge and provide policy 8