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04.03.2013 Social News

Cate Millar expresses concern over absence of women in security committees

04.03.2013 LISTEN
By GNA

Wa, March 4, GNA - Mrs. Catherine Bob Millar, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Women, has expressed concern over little or non-involvement of women in the Regional and District Security Committees in Northern Ghana.

She said this is against several international declarations on women issues and rights of which Ghana is a signatory to.

Mrs Millar said this during a two-day training workshop in networking communication and advocacy skills on peace building and human security for women and youth networks in Wa.

The training workshop, which was attended by women in peace building clubs and youth networks, was under the theme: 'Strengthening the umbrella of women and youth networks in peace building: key to human security, peace and sustainable development'.

Organised by Women in Peace Building Movement and funded by the United Nations Human Security Programme, the workshop aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Coalition of Women and Youth Networks in peace building.

This would enable them to spearhead the crusade against violent conflicts, work together, cooperate and facilitate processes that build connections across communities and trust among the conflicting groups in the region.

Mrs. Millar said the role of women in peace building could not be overemphasized and called for concrete actions towards women's effective participation on peace mediation and negotiation tables.

Mr. Nuhu Abubakar, UN Human Security Programme Field Specialist for Wa, said the programme was being implemented in 19 communities around Yendi and Tamale in the Northern Region, Wa in the Upper West Region and Bawku in the Upper East Region.

He said the programme had so far built the capacity of farmers in the area of manufacturing of compost fertilizer and also supported them with seeds that had about 99% germination rate.

Mr. Abubakar said women groups had also been supported with mechanized boreholes to improve their access to water while Assembly members and traditional rulers were also trained on peace building and conflict management issues.

Hajia Zaratu Abdul-Rahaman, President of Women in Peace Building Movement, thanked the UN Human Security Programme for supporting them with funds to organise the training workshop.

She said Women in Peace Building Movement started in 2003 and had been working with women, youth, female chiefs, princesses and political leaders.

She said the focus was now on the formation of networks to share useful ideas towards peace building.

GNA

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