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WThe West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP Nigeria) has called for more women in governance. The group made the call during a one-day interactive round table meeting with critical stakeholders on women, peace and security in Rivers State.
The WANEP Nigeria coordinator, Briget Osakwe, through head of program, WANEP-Nigeria, Patience Obaulo, stated that WANEP’s objective is to increase awareness and use of non-violent strategies, as a proactive response to conflict, in order to avoid violence, while calling for the protection of women and girls’ right during conflict.
Mrs Obaulo said more women should be included in conflict prevention resolutions and peace building by appointing them into positions of trust, especially on committees to resolve conflict, since they suffer much during crisis, and as a part of the Resolution 1325 of the United Nations.
Zonal coordinator of WANEP, Emem Okon, said the program fell within the 16-day activism currently going on. She stated that the United Nations Resolution 1325 talks about the promotion of peace, adding that Rivers State must enjoy peace for the growth, economy and stability.
Okon, who is the executive director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, expressed satisfaction with the current peace in the state, while calling on government and organizations to mainstream the state Action plan of WANAP into whatever they are doing on peace building, noting that women suffer most during crisis either in the communities or local government areas.
The Rivers State coordinator, Mrs. Loretta Ahuokpeme, said women in peace building programme is one of the thematic areas of WANEP, adding that the network had trained many women on peace building, by increasing their capacity so that they can function at home, church, workplace and community.
She told participants that
conflict prevention, early warning signal of conflict in
communities are critical and form part of their training,
while democracy and good
governance, through monitoring elections and holding the political class accountable,
are part of their work. ,
Earlier, the acting permanent secretary, ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Carmelita Agbarubere, said women should train themselves at all levels to avoid begging for everything. She said women should be proactive, adding that the ministry of Women Affairs is strategic to women to assist them realize their potentials, especially as they have many programs designed to assist women.
Highlight of the event was the call on government to domesticate the state Action plan, and the recognition of women at the local government areas.
