Kwara state government has assured ActionAid, of the implementation of its action plan toward achieving a peaceful society placed on three concepts ‘Women, Peace and Security’.
Speaking at the laughing ceremony of the programme initiated by Olive Community Development, and co-sponsored by Actionaid and funds global affairs, Canada. Held in Ilorin, today, The commissioner for women’s affairs, Hajia AbdulMaliq Risikatullahi, said “Action Plan has its root in the United Nation Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 which gave women a place on Peace and Security resolution, noted that in 2017 all the States were directed to domesticate the plan to suit the peculiarities of their respective State.
“It may interest us to note that the resolution is simply encouraging women’s participation in all peacemaking processes to discourage every form of violence against women. In the same vein, recognizing the roles of women in all spectrum of the development process, peace build, peace keeping, conflict resolution and management.
“Implementation of the document will encourage women participation in all Peace and Security process and management. This is to allow women play their rightful roles within National and International armed Conflict management mechanisms also assist Government in working out policies on peace and security.
“Let me assure you of the readiness of the State to implement the Action Plan and ensure that women are given their place, peace and security processes in the State. This Government is gender-friendly and this has been severally demonstrated through the appointment of women into key positions and the formulation of policies that are meant to protect women and good children.
“I therefore call on all to join hands with the State Government to ensure effective implementation of the document. I cannot conclude this address without my appreciation for ActionAid Nigeria and Global affairs Canada, facilitated by Olive Community Development Initiative (OCDI) for their support to make this Document a reality”
Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Olive Community Development Initiative, Ms Oluwatoyin Adeleke, said 25 years after the historic Beijing conference, the UN security council adopted one of its most pathbreaking decisions on 31st October 2000 to constitute UNSCR 1325. This is a resolution that links gender equality and the maintenance of international peace and security.
“This resolution recognizes for the first time that women’s participation is key to resolving conflict and securing peace. The UNSCR addresses how women and girls are differently being impacted by conflict and war and recognizes the critical role that women can and already do play in peace building efforts.
“It supports women’s participation in peace negotiations and in post-conflict reconstruction and demands protection of women and girls from wartime sexual violence. In Nigeria, the first edition of National Action plan on women peace and security was produced between 2012-2016 while the second edition came out between 2017-2020. Some states have both the first and second edition while some states have none. Let me congratulate us as Kwara state is one of the few states in Nigeria that has an implementation plan on women, peace, and security.
She noted that, “Kwara State Action plan is summarized into 5 categories which was adapted from the National Action Plan (NAP). The categories were agreed upon after much deliberation by the committee members and stakeholders during the harmonization and validation of the findings gotten from the consultative forum. The identified pillars are Prevention, Protection and Prosecution, Participation and Representation, Crises Management Recovery and Post Conflict Reconstruction. Each category represents a pillar with its own strategic objectives.
“The objectives formed the basis of the activities proposed, progress indicators set, expected results, the critical partners to the implementation of the activities and sources of funding”
Present at the laughing ceremony includes; representatives of civil society organisations, concerned government agencies, traditional rulers, security agencies, and religious leaders.
