Network tells govt to involve women in peace building

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The National Women Mediators Network, Kaduna, has called on government at all levels to empower Nigerian Women to partake in peace negotiations and conflict meditation.
The Chairperson of the Network, Prof. Evelyn Hauwa Yusuf, stated this during a press parley in Kaduna yesterday, saying that it is important the Nigerian Government recognize the role of women in peacebuilding.
According to her, women are natural mediators who act as peacemakers in their families and communities, “and also bring together conflicting clans, calm tensions, and prevent flare-ups.
“On October 31, 2000, the UNSC passed Resolution 1325, affirming women’s crucial role in peace-building activities and urging all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all their peace and security efforts.
“Before this resolution, in the eyes of many, mediators ought to be men. Men were the fighters, and hence they were the decision-makers.
“50 women in Kaduna State were trained as meditators and it was a great achievement because it was unheard of for a woman to mediate in a high-level peace process, or for women’s community-level mediation work to be recognized
“Today, women mediators are more common. I am, for example, a member of the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth Network, hosted by NGO Conciliation Resources, which supports 50 female mediators working for peace across different countries and communities around the world.”