African Union Targets AI Threats to Women in Peace
The African Union is integrating digital security and AI threats into action plans to protect women in political processes.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Women’s Issues
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The African Union is taking steps to mitigate technology-facilitated gender-based violence by incorporating digital threats into its formal Women, Peace and Security action plans. This initiative addresses how AI and online attacks are currently used to intimidate and silence women involved in peace and political processes.
Why it matters
Digital attacks pose an increasing threat to women, as bad actors use disinformation and deepfakes to discredit those working in peace-building roles. Establishing these safeguards is necessary to ensure women can participate in political governance without facing targeted digital harassment.
The African Union set 4 official priorities to enhance digital safety for women in peace processes. These protocols build upon the existing framework of the Continental AI Strategy and the Maputo Protocol.
The players
African Union
This is a continental organization consisting of 55 member states that coordinates peace, security, and development initiatives across Africa.
African Union Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security
This office leads the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda to ensure the inclusion of women in all peace-building efforts.
The details
The African Union Office of the Special Envoy convened a dialogue in New York to formalize the inclusion of online harassment and deepfakes within its early warning systems. This effort seeks to protect women from coordinated digital campaigns that aim to discredit their contributions to peace and security.
Timeline
The Peace and Security Council held its 1334th meeting in March 2026.
The Digital Safety at the Peace Table dialogue took place during WPS Week in October 2026.
Culture Shift
The African Union is evolving its security frameworks by extending the foundational protections established by UN Security Council Resolution 1325 to address modern digital threats. This transition reflects a necessary shift from traditional physical security paradigms toward safeguarding digital participation.
This policy change serves to protect the online safety of women engaged in peace-building and political activism by mandating better monitoring of disinformation campaigns. It standardizes safety measures that will eventually influence how regional bodies handle digital harassment globally.
The takeaway
The move signifies that digital safety is now a non-negotiable component of modern peace and security work. Stakeholders should prioritize digital literacy and verification tools to protect against the rising threat of deepfakes and coordinated online attacks.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to promote gender equality at the Women’s Issues section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by African Union,Peace and Security Department.
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