FG, States called to strengthen pillars of WPS, protect rights of women, girls

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Federal and state governments have been called upon to strengthen the four pillars of the Women, Peace and Security, WPS agenda in Nigeria.

The call was made in a paper entitled ‘Understanding the Women, Peace and Security, WPS agenda and the Nigerian National Action Plan, NAP delivered at a three day workshop organized by CLEEN Foundation funded by the royal Norwegian embassy in Makurdi.

Program Manager CLEEN Foundation Mrs Chigozirim Okoro said the pillars focuses on participation-ensuring women equal participation and influence with men, appointment of women as negotiators, involving women in peace keeping and Police roles as well as supporting local women in peace initiatives.

Mrs Okoro also said it entails prevention of conflicts and all forms of violence against women and girls in conflict and post conflict situation.

She maintained that women and girls rights must be protected especially from sexual violence in conflicts.

The Program Manager stressed the need for relief and recovery by ensuring that women and girls specific relief needs are met especially access to health and trauma counseling.

She regretted that over 1.7 million women of child bearing age are displaced in Nigeria with 60 percent women in North East experiencing Gender Based Violence, GBV while over 2000 women and girls are abducted and 90 percent female sucide bombers deployed.

While statting that Nigeria has projected three National Action Plan, NAP 2013-2016, 2017-2020 and 2024-2028, she noted that key qchievements of Nigeria WPS implementation is seen in institutional development, security sector reforms network fornation, legislative advancement, military integration monitoring and evaluation.

Mrs Okoro identified critical implementation challenges to include patriarchial norms and gate keeping, limited women representation, shrinking civic space inadequate funding, coordination gaps and securitization of WPS agenda.

“The pathway recommendation is ensuring adequate and predictable funding, enhance women meaningful participation, expand localization, strengthen coordinatiom mechanisms as well as address patriarchial notms”, she concluded.