BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
As the world celebrates the 2024 International Women’s Day, the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) has implored State Governors and Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 action plan in local communities across the country.
This among other things, calls for the inclusion of women in conflict prevention, resolutions and peace building.
It also harps on the protection of women and girls during armed conflict and post-conflict situations.
The National Network Coordinator of WANEP Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe, who spoke at the launch of the Localisation Guidelines on the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Uju Kennedy–Ohaneye in Abuja, said that doing the above things show that Nigeria is truly committed to implementing the UN Resolution.
She further explained that Nigeria has launched the first and second National Action Plan (NAP) and is currently reviewing the third one.
“This localisation is taking this message to the grassroots for a local action plan and for you leaders of women groups. This is a guideline that will help you to develop action plans with your women at any level. For you to know how to develop action plans and to know women are the heart of Women, Peace and Security especially at the local level”, she explained.
Osakwe added that the guidelines provide local actors, civil society organisations and local government authorities with knowledge of, and a practical way to implement UNSCR 1325 and the Nigerian Women, Peace and Security (WPS) National Action Plan (NAP) at the local level.
On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Uju Kennedy–Ohaneye said it was time for Nigerian women to take actions against perpetrators of all forms of violence against women.
She said the current Presidential initiative has been to change the narrative with special attention paid to bringing succour to vulnerable women through a strategic programme of sustainable empowerment, training and skills acquisition alongside behavioural change campaign and awareness programme.
Uju said “it is time for women to fight for their rights, and women must no longer keep silent when their fellow women and children are crying. This is the time to take our place and build our nation. Nobody can do it for us; it is we that will build our nation.
“Every citizen of Nigeria is a child of a mother, including Mr. President, you must understand the position you are in now. It is time to say enough is enough, we can’t continue with what was obtained in the past. The best way to be ready is not to allow any form of violence perpetrated against women and children hidden away any more.”
“You must rise and challenge any form of violence against Nigerian women and children and make sure you expose anyone who wants to corner what rightly belongs to you. The best protest against violence against women is to expose the perpetrators and speak out. You must shun inducement to keep quiet and bring the act out in the open, let it go viral”, she admonished.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, said the ministry was accelerating gender equality through economic empowerment, investing in women’s economic empowerment and setting a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth.
