Network Advocates for Women inclusion in Peace, Security Decisions

Network Advocates for Women inclusion in Peace, Security Decisions

By Ahmed Ahmed

Network on Peace and Security for Women in the ECOWAS Region (NOPSWECO) Bauchi state has called on policymakers to include women in peace and security decisions

Mrs Mary Ann the state coordinator of NOPSWECO made the appeal at a one-day meeting of women stakeholders supported by Attah sisters helping hand foundation (ASHHF) on Monday in Bauchi.

She said the essence of the meeting was to form modalities on the elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the inclusion of women on peace and security decision making.

“In most conflict situations, women constitute more than 50% of adult populations and are actively engaged in peacebuilding while addressing family survival needs.

“Women’s profiles in peacebuilding have been unrealistically low and undervalued, and Women’s organisations and women peace activists tend to have inadequate access to information and resources.

“Placing women at the centre of local, state and national peace building efforts will improve progress towards enduring peace,” she said.

Mrs Ann reiterated that efforts to build sustainable peace require the participation of women in peace building at all levels of society.

The state coordinator pointed out that the women group will engage in awareness campaigns , advocacy on policy makers on the need to include women in peace and security making.

In her remark,the executive director ASHHF foundation Mrs Comfort Attah explained that the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution formal and legal document.

“Requires parties in a conflict to respect women’s rights and support their participation in peace negotiations and post-conflict reconstruction,” she said.

Mrs Attah calls on Donors and institutions that support women’s efforts to support their discrete projects but rarely integrating women into mainstream policy formation, peacebuilding and reconstruction programmes.

On her part, Mrs Esther Patrick from the state Ministry of women affairs urged the group of women to be committed in the course of ellimination of women discrimination in peace building.

She lamented that Women and Children are the most vulnerable during the conflicts and crisis.

Network Advocates for Women inclusion in Peace, Security Decisions