Canada pledges support for African first ladies’ peace mission

The Canadian government has pledged cooperation and support to the African First Ladies’ Peace Mission (AFLPM) in pursuit of the Mission’s peacebuilding efforts on the African continent.

This was the outcome of Friday’s virtual meeting between the Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on AFLPM, Dr Mairo Al-Makura, on the Mission’s side, and the Canadian Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, as well as the Canadian Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill.

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Speaking during the meeting, Gould and O’Neill commended the valuable efforts of the AFLPM, which they acknowledged, had been working relentlessly on peacebuilding initiatives within Africa.

Dr Al-Makura in a statement issued yesterday said the Canadian officials expressed the interest of the Government of Canada in deepening its cooperation with the AFLPM in promoting women, peace, and security in Africa.

In her opening remarks, Dr Al Makura highlighted women’s role in peacebuilding; the systemic barriers often faced by women in conflict settings and how Canada could further support the goals of the AFLPM on the continent.

“Through the years, the AFLPM has leveraged its privilege and access to power to foster diplomatic and political relationships towards achieving peace, with a particular focus on the needs of the women and children of Africa.

“Also, the Peace Mission is embarking on Advocacy for women on the need to take COVID-19 vaccines alongside their families” Dr Mairo Al-Makura stated.

She emphasised the need for Canada and AFLPM to establish ways to deepen relationships and mobilise resources for the AFLPM secretariat to advance the women, peace and security agenda, gender equality, and the broader Sustainable Development Goals objectives on the African continent.