THE Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) says it has concluded arrangements to embark on a peace-building campaign in some states in the country.
Mrs Bridget Affiah, Co-state representative of WGWYPS-WAS NG in Delta made the disclosure on Tuesday during an official inauguration of the #Workingroupng4peace Campaign in Warri.
Affiah said the campaign would be conducted in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) adding the objective of the NGO was to propagate peace, particularly in the violence-prone states.
She listed the states to include: Abia, Benue, Borno, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Kogi Osun, Rivers, Plateau, Yobe and the FCT.
According to her, the campaign was to further ensure increased awareness on the need to reduce violence especially against the vulnerable populations like the youth, women, children and the physically challenged persons.
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“WGWYPS-WAS was set up in April 2009 with the support of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) across 15 West African Countries and the Sahel.
“WGWYPS-WAS NG with the hashtag, #workingroupng4peace was inaugurated in December 2016 in Nigeria.
“It is an all-inclusive platform for experience sharing, analyse and participatory evaluation and effort within the West African Region and the Sahel.
“It is also for the promotion and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related ones on women and youth participation, conflict prevention mechanism and peacebuilding,” she said.
Affiah said the group recognised states where violence, hate speeches, conflicts and insecurity were prevalent adding that there could be no meaningful development in a conflict situation.
“We will try and see what we can do to achieve sustainable peace for sustainable development.
” We are going to be working with the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Delta,” she said.
Another Co-state representative Mrs Rachael Ruppee said the other objectives of the NGO included: to strengthen the capacity of members and bring skills together to achieve a good result.
“The aim is also to enhance information and knowledge sharing in peace, conflict and violence resolutions,” she said.
One of the guests, Dr Agboro Andrew said that peace and security was a collective responsibility of everyone.
“There is a lot of issues right now in Delta, post political issues, cult issues and without peace, the communities will be underdeveloped.
“A lot of companies are leaving the state as a result of issues related to conflicts,” he said.
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