governance systems integrate conflict management in their structures, policies and processes through democratic principles of inclusive participation. This requires the capacities of government to appropriately respond to these exigencies. Governance processes that promote women’s participation at all levels of governance in the realms of the executive, legislature and judicature are critical. Conflict management systems should be modified to be gender inclusive. A study of the Panel of the Wise on “Eliminating violence against women and children in armed conflict through accelerated implementation of existing frameworks’ recommended an increment of women in mediation by 50 percent at all levels, in electoral bodies and constitutional courts among others.348 The study also recommended systematic gender responsive implementation of Disarmament, Demobilisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration programmes.349Women’s participation in election processes as candidates, monitors and peace advocates will improve their competencies in conflict management. Women’s appointments to the judiciary and other public office on an equal or affirmative action basis improves their participation in a decision making processes. Other key entry points include constitutional making processes, political parties and leadership structures including in cultural institutions where possible. Vibrant civil societies and peacebuilders should be supported to continue their work in implementation and monitoring of NAPs. Enabling laws that allow civil society to operate should be enacted and those that restrict freedoms required for peacebuilding activism removed. Women as individuals and as a collective have a legitimate and legal claim to work in grassroots and community peace building initiatives, participate in preventative diplomacy, influence peace negotiations and mediations and to be included as signatories to peace agreements. State-society dialogue platforms for peacebuilding should be encouraged as good practices of strategic engagement. For example, Uganda has a National Peace Platform and a national Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation policy is being developed which involves CSOs working on women, peace and security. Capacitating CSOs at local, national and continental levels in conflict prevention and peace building objectives is integrated within the strategies of Agenda 2063’s First 348 349 AU Peace and Security Council Communique August 2019 PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCLXVI) Peace and Security Council ‘African Union perspectives on Women, Peace and Security’ March 2015 111