The West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria alongside the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD) will on Friday March 8th 2024 launch the Localization Guidelines and Strategic Workshop on the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution for the protection of women otherwise known as (UNSCR 1325) and Related Resolutions on Women, Peace and Security in Abuja.
The programme, which is supported by the Global Affairs Canada, Peace and Stabilization Operations Programme WANEP said is in commemoration of the International Women’s Day 2024 with the theme “Inspire Inclusion” while the overarching theme is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.”
National Network Coordinator, WANEP- Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe, who expressed joy said since Nigeria launched its revised version in August 2013, WANEP has continued to advocate for the implementation of the localization guidelines across states in the country.
The Peace Ambassador urged state Governors and local government authorities to immediately put machineries in place to commence the implementation of the guidelines in their domains.
Dr. Bridget said government must as a matter of policy increase the numbers of women in the peacemaking and peacebuilding processes especially at the decision-making stages, lamenting that In spite of the central roles women played in preventing and resolving conflicts, responding to crises and building sustainable peace, policy development and peace building processes continue to exclude them.
The WANEP boss expressed optimism that governments at various levels will henceforth see the need to accelerate the inclusion of women voice in conflict prevention mechanisms, saying Nigeria must speed up the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 guidelines without further delay.
Head of Programmes, WANEP-Nigeria, Patience Ikpeh Obualo said the National Launch will be followed immediately by a workshop for Young Women Leaders for Peace on the Localization of the Women. Peace and Security and Youth Peace and Security Agendas in Nigeria.
According to her, the workshop which is an activity under the project “Localization of Women, Peace and Security Resolutions in Nigeria” aims to build the skills of young women to feel confident in successfully advocating for their greater participation in peacebuilding and security processes at the community level.
The event, she further disclosed will bring together young women from conflict-affected communities across Nigeria, representatives of civil society organizations, media practitioners, state actors among other key stakeholders to publicize the localization strategy as a key strategy in the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and UNSCR 2250 in Nigeria.
