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By Emmanuel Kehinde, Ilorin
The Olive Community Development Initiatives supported by ActionAid Nigeria and Global Affairs Canada on Monday in Ilorin inaugurated the Action Plan on women, peace and security.
In her opening address, Mrs Oluwatoni Adeleke, the Chief Executive Officer of Olive Community Development Initiatives, said the action plan involves gender equality and the maintenance of peace and security.
She stated that the resolution recognises that women participation is key to resolving conflict and securing peace.
“The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) addresses how women and girls are differently being impacted by conflict and war.
“It also recognised the critical role that women’s participation in peace negotiations and in post conflict reconstruction and demands protection of women and girls from wartime sexual violence.
“In Nigeria, the first edition of 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 both the first and second edition while some states have none. Kwara is however one of the few state in Nigeria that has implementation plan on women, peace and security.
Adeleke pointed out that the Action Plan for the state includes Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, Participation and Represention.
She therefore appealed to the state government and other critical stakeholders for sustained political will, appropriate program designed and adequate coordination among others.
Also speaking, Mrs Nkechi Kani, the Program Manager, Women’s Right Unit of ActionAid Nigeria emphasised the importance of the action plan, which she said involves promotion of peace in the state and the country as a whole.
“The implementation 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.
Also Mrs Niri Goyit, the Project Coordinator (North), Women Voice and Leadership Project, ActionAid observed that women are at the receiving end during war and that the best strategy to stop war is to ensure women participate in security platforms.
“Perpetrators of insecurity use girls as suicide bombers or to carry out some nefarious activities. So this is best preventive measures to bring peace building,” she said.
In her goodwill messages, Mrs Risikatullahi Bashir, the Kwara Commissioner for Women Affairs said that the state government is ready to implement the action plan and ensure women are given their rightful place in the peace and security process in the state.
