Women reflect on Africa's achievements on UNSCR 1325

KAIPTC Group

Accra, Nov.5, GNA - Women at a day's conference on Tuesday reflected on the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and Women, Peace and Security Network - Africa's (WIPSEN-Africa) achievements, on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325.

The participants were drawn from the diplomatic community in Ghana, civil society organisations, the security agencies, among others.

Addressing the participants in Accra, Group Captain Julius S. K. Debrah, KAIPTC's Deputy Commandant said 12 years since the adoption of UNSRC 1325 and subsequent related resolutions, there have been numerous initiatives at both the local and the international levels directed at raising awareness and promoting ownership.

He said many of these initiatives were aimed at bolstering the presence of women, which is their representation, participation and perspectives in the peace efforts across Africa, including Ghana.

He said: 'In Africa, Resolution 1325 was unanimously adopted by the African Union (AU) Security Council on October 31, 2000. It was later declared at the AU's 38th Ordinary Session in July 2002 in South Africa that policies on gender mainstreaming are binding and should be realised at all levels.'

'The AU framework on Women, Peace and Security is guided by the Protocol on Women's Rights in Africa and the AU Gender Policy amongst other policy initiatives.'

The Deputy Commandant observed that in Ghana, the framework has been operationalised with the adoption of its National Action Plan on UNSRC 1325 with the launch event taking place at the KAIPTC in 2012.

He said the adoption of UNSCR 1325 and its follow-up resolution 1888, 1890 and 1960 on women, peace and security, which calls on governments, states and international organisations to promote the participation of women in negotiations, governance and leadership positions in the security sector institutions has been one of the greatest achievements of the promotion of the women peace and security agenda.

Group Captain Debrah said 11 of the 54 countries in Africa have adopted National Action Plans to implement UNSRC 1325, adding that there is a growing awareness of the critical role women play in conflict, post conflict, peace building, reconstruction and reconciliation.

'In our effort to mainstream gender, we at the KAIPTC have made some key strides to support the implementation of UNSRC 1325, with the establishment of the Women, Peace and Security Institute.

'The integration of gender in our training courses and with the creation of a Master's Programme in Gender, Peace and Security, currently enrols 55 students,' he stated.

Madam Aissatou Fall, WIPSEN - West Africa Programme Director said interestingly enough, although KAIPTC and WIPSEN were established after UNSRC 1325 was passed, their achievements had shown that both had done well in implement the resolution.

She commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for facilitating the passage of the National Action Plan for women and young girls.

GNA