Women who are key actors in Peacebuilding and Security have been encouraged to collaborate in tackling societal issues and take up roles as mediators thereby projecting their potentials for peacebuilding, security and community development.
This was the drive at the One-Day Consultative Dialogue with Women And Security Actors In Plateau State. held at the Conference Hall of JPRM-POCC Lamingo Road Jos On Saturday 8th July 2020. An Initiative powered by the Nigerian Women Mediators Collaborative Initiative (NWMCI), The Women’s International League For Peace And Freedom (WILPF)
The Dialogue centered on creating a platform for intending and active women mediators as a voice for solving conflicts. A consultative meeting of women who are key security and peacebuilding actors created a dialogue session for sharing of experiences on the different roles they play in peace and security building.
The participants learned from each other and explored current conflict dynamics on the plateau ranging from community conflicts, domestic violence sexual abuse, banditry, and other sensitive issues
The participants also shared current mediation processes ongoing in the state in which they are key actors. The dialogue helped in identifying key women mediators in Plateau state and further provided a platform in which they can further learn mediation skills and processes and be fully inducted as mediators.
Mr Dul Kurnap of the NSCDC while addressing issues from the security standpoint, said the work of security personnel will be made easy when women collaborate in tackling societal conflicts further encouraging them to understand their roles in society in ensuring change. He encouraged them to collaborate with the security personnel in resolving conflicts within communities
The Principal Legal Officer for National Human Rights Commission in Plateau State, Mrs Judith Jabbe, said that Women who are most vulnerable should be given a voice and the creation of safe spaces as the various plights of women in conflicts be addressed.
The Assistant Coordinator of the ‘Do-No-Harm’ Network, Blessing Hamma said her network over time has taken the responsibility of addressing sensitive conflicting issues that can lead to violence, trying to mitigate such conflicting issues and working to bring it to the barest minimum.
Introducing the Nigerian Mediators Network, Mrs. Lantana Bako Abdulahi, The National Co-Coordinator of The Nigerian Women Mediators Network, said it was a platform of Women mediators working to resolve conflicts in Nigerian with a desire to increase women voices in peace processes. Especially providing a common platform for women who are already involved in peace processes and encouraging more participation to intending women mediators to amplify their work and voices. It is also a common platform that brings women mediators in Nigeria to support capacity development, coaching, mentoring and collaboration as most of the victims of conflicts are women and children. Mrs. Lanthana further called for a drive, in building a strong women mediators network where women are trained with the capacity to mediate conflicts and the capacity to train and mentor others which will advance the course of peace and development in Nigeria.
Mrs. Justina Mike Ngwobia, Executive Director For Justice Peace and Reconciliation Movement and Founder of Women Peace Network In Nigeria. Said that societal gaps and training have previously placed women at a disadvantage in participating in the process of peacebuilding and development. As such those gaps have to be filled in ensuring that key decisions are taken with women lending their voices is solving conflicts and common societal issues. She said though the World president of Women’s International League For Peace And Freedom, Mrs. Joy Onyeso, was unavoidable absent, critical discussions were centered on issues that women are not the only victims but also perpetrators of some of the ills in the society as such some boys/men also need safe spaces.
She also said that women as mothers and caregivers, are natural peacebuilders and their capacities need to be strengthened so that they can take action, starting from the homefront to the community and society at large.
There we full representations from JDPC, Urban Ministry, WPN, NSCDC, JNI, WISCOD, NAWOJ, DSS, INTERCEP, JNI, JPRM, Tekan Peace, NHRC, WGRDI, DNH, NWMN, FOMWAN, WOWICAN, ICIN, women leaders, community women from Nassarawa and Farin Gada respectively. The conveners also shared insights on the benefits of being part of the Nigerian Women Mediators Collaborative initiative and encouraged Women who are key actors in Peacebuilding and Security building to be registered as members of the NWMCI.
