Though women have been internationally recognised as active agents of peace in conflicts, their roles as key players and change agents of peace have continued to be unacknowledged. But women have made landmark strides in sustaining peace even in violent situations and are powerful as peace builders.
It is, however, counterproductive that in spite of accomplished peace keeping efforts, women are continually sidelined when it comes to issues bordering on normal peace negotiation processes. But while the situation across the world becomes tense and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic remains uncertain, there is need for policy makers to fashion out a blueprint on conflict resolution even before it becomes necessary.
And for any peace process to be successful, it is important that women are made a core part of peace building as their contributions are likely to be more effective as bridge builders if given a chance to exercise their potential in peace sustenance.
Women’s inclusion in peace building processes has been identified by development agencies as an essential requirement for long-term success and effective peace process because it has been proven that gender equality in peace process leads to a long lasting and effective conflict resolution system. Women are known as essential in weaving the fabrics of society together.
While it is said that women are one of the most comprehensive roadmaps towards gender equality and women’s rights worldwide, especially in the area of peace and security, women take a grossly low participation rate in negotiations and mediation. They are usually missing in major peace processes; and when they are instrumental in any process of peace sustenance, nothing is said about their contributions.
The society is more comfortable in portraying women as weak and vulnerable victims who have nothing tangible to contribute and this makes it easy to sweep their efforts under the carpet or gloss over them.
Over the years, women across the world have started advocating for their voice to be heard because they believe that women’s inclusion in peace building will create sustainable peace. And they have been proved right. Many women the world over have changed history and realigned the narrative even in the face of oppressive culture and sentiments.
Women in many countries have been known to have fought for justice and post-conflict reparations not only for themselves but for future generations, leading to sustainable peace processes across sectors. Indeed, it is a fact that women matter in peace sustenance.
Women need to take a key role because over the decades, the nature of modern conflicts has changed and women are more vulnerable as they are usually civilians and they bear the greatest brunt of conflicts. This makes them understand better the importance of peace and the importance of compromise to get a lasting solution.
But while they are major victims to conflict, they are overlooked as participants to peace processes; usually sidelined in dialogues and negotiations on peace and security because the patriarchal nature of the society has made this the domain of men, who usually take peace process with further violence, just to prove superiority.
In today’s world, how much women know about conflict is often disregarded; and this in turn affects how much they can contribute to peace and their level of involvement in peace process. This is wrong because women experience war differently than men. They are victims of sexual violence and are used as tools in war. This makes them understand more and give them the emotional strength to take the right decisions.
Women are important to mediation and peace dialogues because of their insights into the causes of crisis and possible solutions. Consequently, there is need for them to have key roles in peace sustenance.
Buhari Signs Proclamation Order On COVID-19 Management
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday signed the Proclamation Order on the General Management of COVID-19 in Lagos, Ogun, Kano, the Federal Capital Territory and other states in Nigeria. It is in line with the measures outlined in his nationwide broadcast on Monday night on the containment of the virus… Read full story
Face Masks Made Of Clothes, Papers Only Reduce, Can’t Prevent COVID-19 Spread, Says NAFDAC Boss
THE National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday said that the use of non-medical face masks, which include self-made or commercial masks or face covers made of clothes only reduce and not prevent spread of the coronavirus disease… Read full story
Coronavirus: Top NYC Doctor Kills Herself
A top New York City doctor who was on the front line of the US fight against coronavirus has killed herself. According to BBC, Dr Lorna Breen, who was medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Manhattan, died of self-inflicted injuries on Sunday, police said… Read full story
What Buhari Told Nigerians
President Buhari in his address highlighted some of the new measures on the relaxation of lockdown. They are: a. Selected businesses and offices can open from 9am to 6pm; b. There will be an overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am. This means all movements will be prohibited during this period except essential services;… Read full story
Oil Spill: Ondo Communities Lament Losses As Farmlands, Rivers Get Polluted
That cold morning, Samuel Oriade set out to the river as usual for his fishing business, only to discover that the whole river and adjoining lands in the community had been polluted by what appeared to be an oil spill later discovered to have been caused by an alleged equipment failure in a facility of an oil company in the… Read full story
How COVID-19 Pandemic Has Slowed Down NASS
FINALLY, the National Assembly is set to hold an emergency plenary today, April 28, 2020 specifically to give accelerated consideration of the request by President Muhammadu Buhari for the passage of the N500 billion intervention fund, as well as an approval for the utilisation of over N100 billion… Read full story
CBN Lifts Suspension On Cheque Clearing
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Monday lifted the suspension placed on interbank cheque clearing. The new order comes into effect as from Tuesday. This first indication of the lift of the suspension was given during a press briefing addressed by chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Mr Boss Mustapha… Read full story
COVID-19: Fayemi Extends Lockdown In Ekiti By Six Days, Relaxes Sit-At-Home Order For 3 Days Weekly
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has extended the current lockdown in the state for six days till Sunday, May 3, 2020. The governor said that the lockdown declared since March 29 will now be relaxed from Monday, May 4 and allows for limited activities for three days in the week which are, Mondays… Read full story
Borno Govt Confirms Shehu Of Bama’s Demise
Borno State Government has confirmed the death of His Highness, the Shehu of Bama, Kyari Ibn Umar Elkanemi, who passed on Monday afternoon in Maiduguri. He died in his mid-60s. Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Babakura Abba Jato took advantage of a routine media briefing usually held… Read full story
What Exactly Held Abba Kyari Back?
A few days ago, the remains of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, were committed to mother earth and as expected after the demise of a public figure, the torrents of eulogies from both high and low ranked officials, friends and allies to ordinary members of the society have been overwhelming, with some measuring in… Read full story