The Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security (WGWPS) Nigeria has describe women as the best tool in conflict resolution and sustainable peace building.
The country representative for UN Women, Comfort Lamptey said involvement of women in conflict resolution and peace building “in the year 2013 and 2017 made it clear that, for us to have sustainable peace and security women must be given the opportunity to participate”
She said this on Thursday at the launch of #WORKINGROUPNG4PEACE campaign by the WGWPS Nigeria.
Lamptey who was represented by Peter D. Mancha, the UN Women Program Specialist on Women, Peace and Security said women are not only victims of violent conflict but key actors in peace building.
He explained that “women are the ones that spend more time with the children so they can mold these children to be peaceful and to also be peace builders.”
“We implemented a program in Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe states on women, peace and security and in all these 3 states there are references that women have been able to resolve inter-communal conflicts successfully.”
He encouraged every Nigerian woman to mobilize and sensitize other women to lend their voices in ensuring peace is maintained at all levels.
WGWPS in countries across West Africa work on the prevention, promotion and mitigation of conflict and peace building.
Dr Lydia Umar, Co Country Representative of WGWPS said heightening the #WORKINGROUPNG4PEACE campaign was aimed at ensuring the need for peaceful elections and transition especially in the forth coming gubernatorial election.
“Before the gubernatorial election comes, there has to be peace because it is only in a peaceful environment, we can get what we are looking for
“What we are trying to do is to make every woman realize that we are playing a key role in building peace especially that Nigeria has signed into the UN resolution 1325 which has been initiated and has gone through a long process to come up with national action plans”
She revealed that the #WORKINGROUPNG4PEACE campaign will takeoff in 14 states and the FCT with the mandate to sensitize Nigerians on the need for peaceful elections and transition and advocate for the inclusion for the rights of women, children, the aged youths and persons living with disabilities.
Umar noted that no society is completely free from conflict but managing and resolving conflicts is pertinent for a healthy and safe society.
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