The Olive Community Development Initiative, an NGO supported by ActionAid Nigeria and Global Affairs, Canada, on Monday in Ilorin inaugurated an Action Plan for women, peace, and security.
The Chief Executive Officer of the initiative, Mrs. Oluwatoni Adeleke, said the action plan involved gender equality and the maintenance of peace and security.
She said the group recognized that women’s participation was key to resolving conflicts and securing peace.
She said that the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) had addressed the impact of conflicts and war on women and girls.
Adeleke said the resolution also recognized the critical role women played in peace negotiation and post-conflict reconstruction, hence the need to protect them from wartime violence.
“In Nigeria, the first edition of the National Action Plan on women, peace and security was produced between 2012 to 2016, while the second edition came out between 2017 to 2020.
“Some states have produced both the first and second edition, while some states have none. Kwara is, however, one of the few states in Nigeria that has an implementation plan on women, peace, and security,” she said.
Adeleke listed the action plan of the state to include prevention, protection, prosecution, participation, and representation.
She appealed to the state government and other critical stakeholders for a sustained political will, appropriate programme design, and adequate coordination for the plan to succeed.
The Programme Manager, Women’s Rights Unit of ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs. Nkechi Kani, said the action plan involved the promotion of peace in the state and the country at large.
“The implementation of the action plan will encourage Kwara to take it further and ensure every detail is followed through. This will ultimately guarantee the rights and protection of women and children,” she said.
Mrs Niri Goyit, the Project Coordinator (North), Women Voice and Leadership Project, ActionAid, observed that women were at the receiving end during wars, saying the best strategy to curb war impact was to ensure women participated in security platforms.
“Perpetrators of insecurity use girls as suicide bombers or some other nefarious activities. So, allowing them in security outfits is a good preventive measure,” she said.
Mrs. Risikatullahi Bashir, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, assured that the state government was ready to implement the action plan and ensure women were given their rightful place in peace and security sectors of the state.
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