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From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization, (NGO), Equal Access International, (EAI), has made a public presentation of Local Action Plan, (LAP) document for three Local Government Areas, (LGAs), in Benue State to enable the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution, (UNDCR) 1325.
The UNSCR 1325 talks about the impact of war on women and the importance of women’s equal participation in conflict resolution, peace building, peace keeping, humanitarian response and in post conflict reconstruction.
It also calls for special measures to protect women and girls from conflict-related sexual violence with a framework on gender related responsibilities of the UN in different political and pragmatic areas.
Speaking to newsmen in Makurdi during the presentation opin Makurdi, on Monday, the Country Director, EAI, Dr Maji Peterx, said there was need to include women in the peace and security architecture in their local governments for a more peaceful and wholistic society.
Maji who noted that EAI is working in communities in three Benue LGAs said “What we are focusing on in this policy document is the inclusion of women into peace and security structures in Benue especially in the LGs that we are working in which is Gwer West, Guma and Agatu.
“We have had long conversation with the stakeholders within the LGs and have built synergy, we have done validation of the document and now that we have presented it to the public, we hope that this policy documents will not end up on the shelves but would be use to better and strengthen the security architecture are for a more peaceful and wholistic society and local governments.”
He further explained that the pillars of the document include protection, prevention, partnership and reintegration ensures that “everything that protects, provides and supports the inclusion of women is key on our policy and to ensure that chairs of women are not empty at the table of discussions.”
While assuring that the organization will set up a structure for women peace builders to carry out advocacy for implementation, Maji said “We will be supporting the groups and the structure for another one year.”
He pledged that EAI would encourage their partners and other organizations coming to work in Benue to scale up the programme to other local governments in the state.
Earlier, the Security Secretary of Guma LGA, Mr Christopher Waku, who acknowledged the role of women as custodians of peace, expressed happiness that women are beginning to come out to join the male folk to canvass for issues of peace and security.
He said “there is need to include women in security meetings as incubators of information. In Guma, we have a committee on peace and conflict resolution. We have meetings with herders and peace is beginning to return such that the Fulanis have started coming to Gbajimba market and people are also returning to their homes around Yogbo area.”
Also speaking, the acting Chairman of Gwer West, Hon. Veronica Kwaghbo, said gone are the days when women only sat around and gossipped. She called for women inclusion at the discussion tables especially at the local communities saying “Women no longer gossip. They discuss very serious issues and would be happy to contribute to the peace and security of their areas.”
Presenting the summary of the LAP document, a consultant, Mrs Helen Teghtegh, said the conflict in Guma LGA and other places in the state have affected women and girls in many ways including dwindling of economic power, total displacement, lack of ante natal care, exposure to infections and other sicknesses, increased trafficking, early and forced marriages, and sexual gender based violence to mention a few.
She said EAI has supported the development of Benue LAP for Agatu, Guma and Gwer West LGAs with an action plan to address women increased participation in peace and security activities which before now was low and expressed the hope that it will be used for a more peaceful and secured Benue state.
