WANEP Committed to Women’s Participation in Peace, Human Security in Nigeria, Says Coordinator

By Segun Awofadeji

The National Network Coordinator, West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) Nigeria, Bridget Osakwe has expressed the commitment of the organisation to increased participation and representation of women in peace and human security processes in the country.

The Coordinator particularly expressed WANEP’s concern towards the overall development of a gender responsive architecture in Bauchi State.

Osakwe spoke at a two – day workshop on localisation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and Women, Peace and Security in Bauchi State organised by WANEP in collaboration with Global Network of Women Peace builders (gnwp) held at Hazibal Suites Event Centre, Bauchi weekend.

In her welcome address, Osakwe lamented that women who were key stakeholders in conflicts and peace building have been underutilised and undermined in the peace processes in the country.

To this end, she explained that WANEP in an effort to ensure that women’s contributions and concerns were duly harnessed in implementing UNSCR 1325, NAP and other government policies on women, peace and security “the reason this workshop and our project is organised towards amplifying women voices, strengthening local and national partnership for the localisation of the women, peace and security resolutions in Nigeria”.

While explaining the aim of the Bauchi workshop, she said “this workshop is aimed at building the understanding of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR)1325 and Nigrerian National Action Plan(NAP), among local government authorities, local women activists and leaders, youth activists and leaders, civil society and marginalised groups in the state”.

According to her, ” this workshop also aims at promoting systematic coordination and greater cross – sectoral cooperation among national and local government authorities, civil society, local leaders,UN entities and multilateral institutions in implementing the WPS Resolutions in Toro and Katagum Local government areas, and finally develop an Action Plan for the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 in Toro Loca government area”.

“Participants will also discuss the relevance of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Resolutions and the Nigerian NAP to Toro and Katagum local government areas, Bauchi State and identify the concrete actions to implement them”.