Forum Seeks Policy On Women’s Role In Security, Peace Building 

Representatives of ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organizations, media among others in Imo State have stressed the need to put in place legal framework that would strengthen women’s role in security, peace building and decision making processes in the state.

The stakeholders said that active women’s participation in key decisions making relating to peace and security would enhance inclusiveness, equity, social justice, transparency, accountability, even development and general well-being of the citizens and the state at large.

They stated this at one-day Stakeholder Consultative meeting, aimed at identifying local perspectives and priorities for the development of the Imo State Action Plan (SAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), held in Owerri.

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The organizers, Alliances for Africa, (AfA) through its Executive Director, Ms. Ihuoma Obibi said the dialogue was part of the collective efforts to localize the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on United Nations Security Council Resolution, UNSCR 1325 and to ensure inclusive peace-building in Imo State.

Obibi disclosed that the meeting aside creating awareness on SAP and its relevance to the state, it also aimed at fostering stakeholders’ education, collaboration and commitment to its formulation and implementation in the state.

She urged the state government and other concerned stakeholders to facilitate and support the speed development of the legal framework in the state for the overall interest and good of the people.

Also, discussing on the priority areas of the legal framework, a consultant, Amy Oyekunle disclosed that the NAP/SAP on WPS objectives include, “to ensure women’s and girls’rights are safeguarded, protected, and promoted in peace, conflict, and humanitarian settings; to strengthen technical capacities, resource allocation, service provision, and reporting around SGBV through innovation and technology as well as strengthen legislative, policy reforms and practices on standardization and operationalization of WPS/GBV prevention and response.”

Oyekunle stressed that when SAP is implemented, the outcomes would include meaningful participation of women in peace and security processes and architecture at all levels; “and also lead to increased and meaningful representation of women at decision-making levels in traditional, political, electoral, and other governance systems, among benefits for Imo State.”

Major highlight of the meeting, with the theme, “Amplifying Women’s Voices in Peace and Security Policy Dialogues at the Local Level through the Development of a State Action Plan for the Enforcement of the 3rd NAP on UNSCR 1325, was the appointm theent of a 35- person Imo State Implementation Group on Women Peace and Security (WPS).