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By Akanji Alowolodu Bauchi
It has been observed that the impact of conflict on women and their role in peace processes need to be better exposed and reflected on; and the implementation of various policies related to Women, Peace and Security needs to be accelerated and monitored.
It was consequent upon that, the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, unanimously adopted by the Security Council in October 2000, stressed the importance of the equal participation and full involvement of women in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security.
This resolution as contained in a workplan by the Bauchi state chapter of Women Mediators network, with its four pillars of prevention, participation, protection and peace building and recovery, has become the focal point for galvanizing worldwide efforts to deal with the many challenges that women face in situations of conflict.
In the years since, eleven additional resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) have been adopted has created a robust framework for implementing the WPS agenda and reinforced global commitments, treaties and conventions on women’s rights, including the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
In order to deliver these commitments at the national level, the United Nations encouraged Member States to adopt National Action Plans (NAPs) on WPS to implement the resolutions and monitor the progress of the WPS agenda and ss of September 2019, 82 countries have adopted NAPs-WPS.
In order to contribute to an increase in women’s access to and participation in peace mediation and negotiation in Nigeria, women’s capacity in mediation and negotiation skills needs to be improved and extended to all areas of work, including security sector reform, financing and power-sharing.
A comprehensive response from all stakeholders is necessary to ensure gains made are not reversed as the Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs adopted its 1st and second generation NAP in 2013 and 2017, respectively, with the support of Nigerian Stability Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), the European Union and UN Women. The second NAP, covering the period 2017-2020 has five pillars.
Prevention and Disaster Preparedness
Participation and Representation
Protection and Prosecution
Crises Management, Early Recovery and Post-Conflict Reconstruction
Partnerships- Coordination and Management
As at April 2020, 11 states have localized the NAP by developing State Action Plans (SAPs) to address state specific peace and security issues.
In line with the principle of ‘‘leaving no one behind’’, some of these states translated their SAPs in local and sign languages, and braille for the visually impaired.
This is in addition to the development of Local Government Action Plans (LAPs) to further expand the scope of intervention at grassroots levels while SAP provides a guide for state and non-state actors on state specific gender mainstreaming and gender-sensitive approaches to peace building and security processes.
Bauchi State is at its final phase of developing its SAP as a build-up to its support to the government of Nigeria to meet its commitments on UNSCR 1325, UN Women is implementing a 2-year Programme on WPS, in partnership with International Alert, and with funding support from the Government of Norway.
Bauchi and Benue states are the two target areas for the Programme as the initiative is designed to achieve the broad goal of gender-inclusive and sustainable peace in Nigeria.
It will be done through Increased women’s effective participation in peace and security processes, peace negotiations, conflict prevention and resolution and Improved public perception on the role of women in peace and security, at all levels through opportunities for engagement and dialogue.
One of the components of the Programme focus on supporting the Government of Bauchi and Benue states, among other stakeholders to develop and implement SAPs, including the establishment of functional mechanism for monitoring, documenting and reporting progress.
Against this background, the Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development seeks to lead the establishment of a State Implementation Committee (SIC) to support the implementation of the SAP, while also enhancing monitoring and coordinating systems, at all levels.
Structure of the SIC
The State Implementation Committee shall report to the Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development while the State Implementation Committee shall be permanently chaired by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, which will also host the secretariat.
There shall be a co-Chair, which will be rotational every 6 months.
The Committee shall have a secretary who shall be elected from the membership while membership shall be drawn from Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Traditional institutions, Professional Bodies, Women Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Security Sector Institutions and the Media.
Representatives of committee members shall be of directorate cadre, or of senior management level if not from an MDA just as Membership shall be drawn from stakeholders with practical evidence of gender-mainstreaming, state-wide reach/presence and relevant activities focused on women and children
Committee Scope of Work.
The Committee shall carryout the functions of orientation, awareness and advocacy activities to sensitize and educate all stakeholders in the State, on BSAP and Advice, facilitate and organize community and civil society dialogues on WPS and BSAP.
It will also Undertake needs assessment and facilitate capacity building on gender mainstreaming and related topics for implementing MDAs
Lead resource mobilization, including through engagement with SHoA, Governor, and development partners
Regular reporting/review of reports from stakeholders.
Furthermore, it will Monitor, report, and document implementation of WPS BSAP; Advocate for the domestication, popularization and implementation of relevant/enabling policies and laws.
Any additional function deemed necessary to further enhance implementation, monitoring and reporting of the SAP in Bauchi State.
The expected deliverables includes
Quarterly progress reports incorporating quantitative and qualitative achievements from all sectors and levels, Annual advocacy briefing to the Governor on WPS BSAP; recommendations to the State Ministry of Women Affairs, State House of Assembly and other relevant stakeholders on WPS BSAP monthly meeting minutes/reports.
