ABUJA (IPCR Report) – The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in Partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Norwegian Embassy and United Nations (UN) Women, has organized a stakeholders dialogue on Women, Peace and Security.
The Director General of the Institute, Dr. Bakut T. Bakut, while declaring the event open recently in Abuja, said that the programme focused on how women can meaningfully enhance their role in conflict prevention and resolution in Nigeria with a reference to North East, Middle Belt and the Niger Delta Region.
He opined that conflict has an uneven impact on women due to their peculiar vulnerability status, the quests for peace in both conflict and post-conflict situations have also recorded a huge gender gap as women are often excluded from decision-making processes due to age-long socio-cultural discriminative norms.
He explained that to reverse the limitation in women’s inclusion in peace processes, Nigeria and other Member Countries of the United Nations accented to the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 which calls for the inclusion of women in peace building.
The Director General further disclosed that IPCR has played critical roles in the development of the National Action Plan and is still contributing to the implementation of the framework to strengthen gender role in peace processes.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, who was represented by the Acting Director, Women and Gender Affairs, Oladipo Funke, noted that conflict brings with it terrible human rights consequences for all involved.
She said, “As we are all aware, women, girls and children are usually the most affected by violent conflicts but yet are largely excluded from peace building and conflict processes due to factors like patriarchy, ignorance and other socio-cultural impediments; women’s interest has been neglected by the peace process, which has resulted in male-centered approaches to peace and security.”
In her remarks, the Deputy Head of Mission Norwegian Embassy, Ingrid Skjolaas, said that without women in peace process there would be no lasting peace.
She appreciated the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, UN Women and Civil Society Organizations for their various support in promoting gender equality.
Musa Mato
Head of Media
IPCR
