By; PETER NOSAKHARE, Kaduna
United Nations (UN) Women as well as the Kaduna State Government are collaborating in promoting gender equality, peace and security for violence free participation in all spheres of growth in the state and Nigeria.
UN Women on Wednesday organised a stakeholders consultative meeting in Kaduna, titled, “Programme on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria”.
The programme is in partnership with the government of Nigeria, and with funding support from the Norwegian government.
Participants at the event agreed that there is gender inequality in political participation in the country, noting that women are grossly being sidelined by menfolk in elective positions.
However, some participants blamed non inclusion of women in some elective positions due to religious and cultural factors, coupled with high financial expenses attached to seeking such positions.
At programme, the state commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba said that the government of the state has started working to achieve the National Action Plan (NAP) which focus on the location of women about peace, security, and conflict.
Hajiya Baba stated that the State will design implementable activities that could enhance the overall safety and wellbeing of women and children about conflict and violence in the State.
According to her, in 2006, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs articulated the National Gender Policy (NGP) as one of the national instruments focused at realizing Nigeria’s national and international commitments as enshrined in policy and treaty documents promoting and protecting women’s human rights in public and private spaces including a full implementation of the 35% affirmative action that includes women in all governance processes.
“For me, this gave birth to the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) policy adopted on the premise that equitable investment in adolescent girls and women, boys and girls is not simply a question of human rights, it makes socio-economic sense.
She added that the fifth objective of the policy which sought to create a safe and sustainable environment free from violence and conflict had a sub-activity to develop and implement a State Action Plan for UN Resolution 1325 on gender and conflict management in the context of women, peace, and security.
“Remember 2016, the Kaduna State Government domiciled the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace, and security, and launched the Kaduna State Action Plan (KADSAP) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions in the state.
Also, in his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said the State government is concerned and interested in issues that could enhance the well-being of women.
Aruwan however, regretted that women in the State were at the receiving end of insecurity, noting that 40% of victims of banditry and terrorism in the State were women and children.
“But I can assure you that the State government is doing everything humanly possible to ensure safety of lives and property in the State.
“We know that as we approach 2023 general elections, there will be a lot of security challenges. So let us preach peace and tolerance among one another. And government will continue to her best for peaceful coexistence among the people of the State”. Aruwan said.
