As the world marked the International Day of Peace on Monday, AP-WORP Executive Director Munteh Florence Chea has said sustainable peace must be measured by the safety, protection and access to justice enjoyed by women and girls, as the organisation prepares for a High-Level Regional Dialogue on Protection and Accountability in the North-West Region.
The message come three days before AP-WORP’s planned regional dialogue, giving added practical significance to its call for peace that goes beyond the absence of armed conflict to address violence against women and girls, survivor protection, justice and meaningful participation in peace and security processes.
The United Nations observed the 2026 International Day of Peace under the theme “invest in peace: for everyone, everywhere, every day”, emphasising peace as a lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunity and cooperation, and highlighting the role of local actors in building peace from the ground up.
For AP-WORP, those principles are expected to be taken into the regional dialogue scheduled for 24 September, where findings from its recent consultations on gender-based violence protection and accountability will be placed before regional stakeholders.
In her Peace Day message, Munteh Florence said peace should mean that women and girls could live without fear, violence or abuse, while survivors had access to justice, protection and healing and communities ensured that voices were heard in decisions affecting them.
“Peace is not simply the absence of war,” she said, linking the international observance to the protection concerns AP-WORP has been examining through its recent work with frontline organisations.
The organisation’s preparations for the 24 September engagement followed separate bilateral consultations with 10 organisations between 28 August and 4 September. The consultations examined gaps in survivor protection, referral systems, psychosocial support, access to justice, accountability and coordination among institutions working on protection and security.
The findings pointed to a fragmented response in which survivors could face difficulties moving from reporting a case to obtaining protection, support and justice. AP-WORP has subsequently called for stronger referral and coordination mechanisms linking civil society, health, psychosocial, justice, protection and security actors.
The organisation also wants the regional engagement to address safe accommodation and emergency protection for survivors who cannot safely return home, reduce procedural and financial barriers to justice, strengthen case follow-up and establish a structured mechanism through which women-led and frontline organisations can raise emerging protection concerns.
Munteh Florence says AP-WORP is reaffirming its commitment to supporting survivors of gender-based violence, strengthening psychosocial support and protection, promoting accountability and advancing women’s meaningful participation in peace and security processes.
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She said the forthcoming regional dialogue would be an opportunity to translate those principles into practical action.
“As we prepare for our High-Level Regional Dialogue on Protection and Accountability in few days, we continue to believe that sustainable peace must be safe, inclusive, survivor-centred and rooted in justice,” she said.
The focus places AP-WORP’s upcoming engagement within the broader UN message for Peace Day 2026, which calls for investment in inclusive communities, human rights, dignity, dialogue and institutions that people can trust. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also urged governments and communities to strengthen the foundations of peace through dialogue, negotiation and action at local level.
According to AP-WORP, the immediate challenge will be whether the 24 September dialogue can turn concerns documented through the consultations into clearly assigned actions, responsible institutions and follow-up mechanisms.
“There can be no lasting peace where violence against women and girls is tolerated,” Munteh Florence said.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
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