From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, New York
The First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari has decried poor representation of women in formal peace and security processes despite the efforts of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), which has distinguished itself as veritable Organization for advocating peace, stability and harmony in Africa.
She spoke at Luncheon “Accelerating Women, Peace and Security in Africa within the SDG Agenda” at the margin of the 76th United Nations General Assembly, organized by AFLPM.
The event served as a step toward the reinvigoration of the AFLPM in achieving its well- defined mandates, which include; the promotion of peace in Africa. It also raised awareness on the benefits of gender participation in peacebuilding and contributing to ending conflict in Africa.
The AFLPM is the outcome of the 1995 United Nations conference on women in Beijing, China.
Represented by Dr. Mairo Al-Makura, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Women, Peace and Director General AFLPM, Mrs. Buhari, noted that women have distinguished themselves with achievements in every field of human endeavour that paved the way for more equality, solidarity and inclusion at the local, national and global levels.
She stressed that the Organization must continue to build on these successes in the months and years to come.
She added further that Women can achieve incredible change, conflict transformation and sustainable peace if they continue supporting and advocating for more inclusion and participation of women and in particular young women as equal partners in society with leadership and decision-making roles in Africa and across the globe.
The Nigeria’s First Lady, recalled that it was to remedy the poor representation of women in peace and conflicts processes that the UN Security Council since October 2000 to adopt nine Women, Peace and Security (WPS) resolutions, which aim to strengthen women’s participation, protection, and rights in conflict prevention and resolution processes.
“These resolutions include UNSCR 1325 (2000); 1820 (2009); 1888 (2009); 1889 (2010); 1960 (2011); 2106 (2013); 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015) and 2467 (2019)). In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly also adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 2030 Agenda, including stand-alone goals on gender equality (SDG5) and peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG16).
“However, resolutions to push through the WPS and SDG agenda do not reflect the reality on the ground in Africa as peace continues to elude the continent with little improvement in poverty reduction, transparency and accountability, good governance nor institutional capacity. In a world where the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on women and girls, the pandemic has largely exacerbated women’s needs and governments are struggling to address inequalities and protecting the victims of domestic violence.”
In her goodwill message, the First Lady of the Republic of Gambia, Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people of the world enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 strike a cord in every woman on the African continent in that, put together, they address issues that affect women and the girl child.
According to her, “In particular, Goal 5, which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and Goal 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels level hold great for the African woman and girl child.
“However, laudable as these goals are, Agenda 2030 cannot be realised in the absence of peace and security because there can be no sustainable development without peace and security, just as there can never be any peace and security without sustainable development. Both are intrinsically inter-twinned, hence the commitment of the African First Ladies Peace Mission, working with all our development partners and all levels of government in each African country, is committed to mobilizing and investing attention, time, and resources in prevention and de-escalation of conflict, violence, and instability to build the atmosphere for sustainable development. This becomes even more imperative given that women and children bear the brunt of conflicts, violence, and consequent lack of development.”
Mrs. Barrow called on the international community, the UN, and African governments to expand and equally prioritise more meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, security and sustainable development.
“This will include women political leaders, women-oriented Civil Society Organisations and international development agencies, women leaders and organisations, down women in the homes. We must ramp up sensitisation efforts to ensure that every woman, including those in the rural areas, where the overwhelming majority of African women live, understands the meaning of the SDGs and her roles and rights towards the realisation of Agenda 2030. Only such mass participatory approach can guarantee a poverty-free, secure, peaceful, and prosperous African continent by 2030.”
Earlier in her welcome remark, Dr. Al-Makura, informed the audience that the vision of AFLPM is primarily messengers and harbingers of peace and promotion of peace on the continent. And also advocating for the engagement of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts as provided by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 of October 31, 2000.
“Since inception, the AFLPM in pursuance of its mandate has, among others produced an update or survey of major conflicts in different parts of the continent. This update is fundamental to understanding these conflicts as well as mapping of strategies for intervention. We are currently engaged in supporting women in fragile and conflict-affected communities in the Sahel region of Africa.
Achieving peace and security through a gender lens approach remains a critical challenge for many communities in our member countries. We are doing everything in our power to reach out to those affected by war and violence with programs that have proven to be successful. From our work in the Sahel, to where we have provided humanitarian support to countries that have been affected by violence and terrorism. We are planning workshops and strategic dialogues across some countries to amplify the role of women leaders in peace and security.
She said: “We are aware that the key element of sustaining progress on women peace and security has been through partnerships. It is in this context that the AFLPM seeks to engage as many partners as possible so we can make a significant impact on the advancement of the women, peace and security agenda, gender equality, and broader SDG goals on the African continent.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on his part noted that to include women in peace processes will not only create a broader range of perspectives in addressing conflicts and concerns of all stakeholders, but also increases inclusivity and hastens the processes of conflict resolutions.
Represented by Abiodun Adejola, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Onyeama noted that in addition, peacemaking strategies that include women are more likely to generate ownership and last longer on our actions regarding shared challenges.
“In the face of persistent and complex violent conflicts and rising backlash against women’s rights in Africa, it is pertinent that our continent steps up efforts and bolster solidarity. We should put actions in motion to take more seriously the need to accelerate the full inclusion of women in peace and security on the continent, especially if we must achieve the SDGs and the Agenda 2063.”
Also present were Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, representative of Nigeria’s Council General in New York, Ambassador Nicholas Ella and Senior Technical Advisor, Office of the SSA to the President on SDG.