Norwegian Ambassador advocates women’s involvement in peace, security in Nigeria

NORWEGIAN Ambassador to Nigeria Mr Jens-Petter Kjemprud has advocated the participation of women in peace and security processes in Nigeria just as he added that there is the need for state governments including that of Bauchi to implement the National Action Plan on women so that they will participate effectively in bringing enduring peace in the society.

The Ambassador who was speaking on Monday during the official launch of women, peace and security program in Bauchi State, said that Nigeria especially the North Eastern states have over the years been ravaged by conflicts which affected women and their children.

The Ambassador further noted that the program was initiated by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the empowerment of Women tagged ‘UN WOMEN’ adding that government of Norway is sponsoring the project in Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Government.

Also speaking, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria Mrs Comfort Lamptey explained that 11 States in Nigeria have already domesticated the National Action Plan on Women saying that UN Women was there to launch it in Bauchi State that would last for two years.

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She added that the program would work on three issues to achieve the objective which includes advocacy for the formulation of policies that are responsive to women’s security, building women’s capacity on conflict mediation and resolution and changing societal perception on the womenfolk.

In her remarks, the State Commissioner of Women Affairs and Child Development, Rukayya Ibrahim Kewa lamented that women in Nigeria are poorly represented in formal peace processes opining that such exclusion leads to failure to adequately address women’s concerns such as sexual and gender-based violence, women’s rights and post-conflict accountability as well as sustainable peace and security.

She promised that her ministry would provide support to the program to ensure that women participate effectively in peace and security processes, peace negotiation, conflict prevention and resolution.