Redefine Role Of Women In Conflict Prevention-WANEP
The West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) yesterday called on governments in the sub-region to redefine the role of women in conflict prevention and peace-building, as women suffered the most in times of conflicts.
Mr Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, Executive Director of WANEP, expressed regret that women were excluded from peace negotiations to end crises in various countries in the sub-region, as were the cases in the Lome, Yamosoukro, Ouagadougou and the Accra Declarations, saying this did not augur well for the cause of women.
Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Annual Regional Conference of Women in Peace-building Network (WIPNET) in Accra, he said security in West Africa depended on a strong social fabric and it was the women who held it in place and prevented it from collapse.
The three-day conference, which is to train women field monitors in early warning signs of conflict, has brought together participants from Nigeria, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Guinea and Ghana.
Mr Bombande said about 10 years ago conflicts in West Africa escalated and caused total destruction adding that women suffered the consequences directly and indirectly. He said though the sub-region may be experiencing some peace at the moment, it was too early to be complacent and boast about the stability in West Africa.
Mr Bombande said peace was elusive where there was no security and freedom from fear or want, adding that, there was the need to constantly work together with women groups to ensure that peace, security and stability were maintained on the continent.
He said WANEP would help to increase the number of women participants in peace-building and urged the participants to discuss ways of ensuring that women were put at the forefront in issues of peace and security.
Ms Marian Tackie, a Director at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, who opened the conference, said women needed to be empowered politically and economically to contribute efficiently towards maintaining peace.
In a speech read for the Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, she said peace was not achieved through security alone but with the development of the human resource base especially of women who could give advice on early warning signs for conflict prevention.
Ms Tackie said there were bright prospects for the future as the Ministry had started the process to develop an action plan to tackle the issue regarding women's critical role in peace and security.
She said this would include the launch of a national campaign against gender-based violence and called on participants to come out with sustainable strategies to address all the shortcomings.
Ms Oury Traore, WANEP Regional Programme Manager, said this year's conference was unique because it would provide the opportunity to acquire skills in early warning, which was a valuable tool to sustain peace in the sub-region. She said it would raise awareness on women's critical roles in conflict prevention as well as identify the strengths and weakness of the WIPNET programme.
Mr Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, Executive Director of WANEP, expressed regret that women were excluded from peace negotiations to end crises in various countries in the sub-region, as were the cases in the Lome, Yamosoukro, Ouagadougou and the Accra Declarations, saying this did not augur well for the cause of women.
Speaking at the opening of the Fifth Annual Regional Conference of Women in Peace-building Network (WIPNET) in Accra, he said security in West Africa depended on a strong social fabric and it was the women who held it in place and prevented it from collapse.
The three-day conference, which is to train women field monitors in early warning signs of conflict, has brought together participants from Nigeria, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Guinea and Ghana.
Mr Bombande said about 10 years ago conflicts in West Africa escalated and caused total destruction adding that women suffered the consequences directly and indirectly. He said though the sub-region may be experiencing some peace at the moment, it was too early to be complacent and boast about the stability in West Africa.
Mr Bombande said peace was elusive where there was no security and freedom from fear or want, adding that, there was the need to constantly work together with women groups to ensure that peace, security and stability were maintained on the continent.
He said WANEP would help to increase the number of women participants in peace-building and urged the participants to discuss ways of ensuring that women were put at the forefront in issues of peace and security.
Ms Marian Tackie, a Director at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, who opened the conference, said women needed to be empowered politically and economically to contribute efficiently towards maintaining peace.
In a speech read for the Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, she said peace was not achieved through security alone but with the development of the human resource base especially of women who could give advice on early warning signs for conflict prevention.
Ms Tackie said there were bright prospects for the future as the Ministry had started the process to develop an action plan to tackle the issue regarding women's critical role in peace and security.
She said this would include the launch of a national campaign against gender-based violence and called on participants to come out with sustainable strategies to address all the shortcomings.
Ms Oury Traore, WANEP Regional Programme Manager, said this year's conference was unique because it would provide the opportunity to acquire skills in early warning, which was a valuable tool to sustain peace in the sub-region. She said it would raise awareness on women's critical roles in conflict prevention as well as identify the strengths and weakness of the WIPNET programme.
