ABOUT AFLPM

African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) known by its French acronym as MIPREDA was an outcome of the 1995 Fourth World Conference in Beijing on women where the significant initiative was taken to establish the African First Ladies Forum by African wives of Heads of State/Presidents came together as ambassadors of peace during the conference. The initiative was taken by the First Ladies of Nigeria, Gambia, Benin, Uganda, Lesotho and Burundi to undertake peace mission to the rest of Africa. And advocate for the inclusion of women in negotiation teams to serve as mechanisms of conflict prevention, management and resolution throughout Africa.

It started in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1996. The supreme organ of the mission is the First Ladies conference. Having held several regional meetings, the “Abuja Declaration of Africa’s First Ladies on Peace and Humanitarian issues” was made in 1996. As at 2015 to date the Peace Mission has 47 member countries……
The coalition of African First Ladies Peace Mission represents critical stakeholders that can contribute to the mitigation of violent conflicts and minimize the negative impact on the people, especially women and children of Africa who are the most vulnerable groups in conflict situations.
The contribution of various stakeholders to prevent, manage and resolve them will transform the continent and attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, conflict mitigation is an imperative that would enhance the attainment of the desired goals of peace and sustainable development in Africa.

The role of the President of AFLPM equally enhances the protection and advancement of African women in conflict areas. It also helps to complement the efforts of the President’s spouse to ensure that some specific goals of the SDGs are achieved.
This is a platform to assess the conflict areas in the continent for needs assessment that will commensurate what the victims of conflicts, terrorism and war really want. The President will be the international voice for global peace and reconciliation through mediation and assistance to victims.

The Vision of the African First Ladies Peace Mission:
i.    Primarily messengers and harbingers of peace and promotion of peace initiative on the continent.
Advocating for the engagement of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts as provided by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 of October 31, 2000

AFLPM Goals/Objectives:
•    To build a culture of peace and development
•    To offer support and services to victims of conflict
•    To use appropriate mechanism and institution to protect women and children in armed conflict areas.

i.    Mobilization of multi-lateral and bi-lateral partners as well as NGOs to sustain the efforts of our government in the region.
ii.    Humanitarian Concerns: Carrying out humanitarian activities to supplement international assistance through the collection and distribution of relief materials to victims of conflict;
iii.    Sponsor  other activities in favour of victims of conflict (e.g. social, psychological, medical etc)
iv.    Advocate and promote the political, economic and social empowerment of women, in the interest of conflict prevention, management and post-conflict peace-building by:
a)    Initiate and promote income-generating activities for women;
b)    Encourage the introduction of peace education in primary and secondary school curricula and in settlements/camps of refugees and displaced persons.
c)    Promote civic education and full participation of women in the political affairs and processes of their countries.

The Peace Mission through its successive Presidents (First Ladies) successfully directed the affairs of the Mission in contributing to peace in troubled regions in Africa. This has been demonstrated among others through sending of relief materials to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the following countries from 1997 to date;
•    Liberia,                  
•    Sierra Leone
•    Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
•    Mali,                  
•    Nigeria
•    South Sudan
•    Guinea Bissau
•    Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
•    Central African Republic
•    Burundi
•    Kenya

Mobilization of resources for peace activities by:
a)    Organizing national and international activities for fund-raising (e.g. sports events, exhibitions, fashion shows or fundraising dinner);
b)    Networking with potential donors.

Our Past Presidents
1.Dr. Mrs. Maryam Sani Abacha – Nigeria (1997 – 1998)
2.Justice Fati Abdulsalam  – Nigeria (1998- 1999)
3.Madame Edith Lucie Bongo Ondimba – Gabon (1999 – 2001)
4.Mrs. Constancia Mangue MangueNgue De Obiang – Equatorial Guinea  (2001 – 2003)
5.Mrs. Chantal Campaore  – Burkina Faso (2003 – 2005)
6.Madame Antoinette Sassou  Nguesso – Congo Brazzaville (2005 – 2007)
7.Hajia Turai Umaru Yar’Adua – Nigeria (2008 – 2010)
8.Dame Patience Faka Jonathan – Nigeria (2012 – 2015)