UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHEL (UNOWAS) INAUGURATION OF (WOMEN PEACE AND SECURITY) WPS AS WORKING GROUP TO COMMEMORATE THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM ON 6TH DEC. 2016 @ NSRP OFFICE, ABUJA
INTRODUCTION
The inauguration of the WPS as working group for UNOWAS was held on the 6th of December 2016 at the NSRP office Abuja. The meeting started with the introduction of members by their names and organizations being represented. Welcome remark was done by Dr Eleanor Nwadinobi manager for women and girls NSRP where she specially introduced Mrs Esther Eghobamien Mshelia, the Director, Women and Gender Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms Telou Kemealo Memadouname Agathe, Gender Advisor, Focal Point Best Practices and Coordinator of Working Group on Women, Peace and Security in West Africa and Dr Lydia Umar one of drafter of the National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS and the Nigeria Coordinator of the Working Group of Peace And Security (WGPS) and every Women Peace and Security Network (WPSN) present.
She reminded everyone that 6th of December marked the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre within the 16 days of Activism, with the theme of this year’s commemoration “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World.” She mentioned that UNOWAS has indicated interest in to inaugurate NSRP – WPSN as a working group for women, peace and security in West Africa (WGPS-WA) as part of the commemoration of the 16 days of activism as the initiative will provide a great opportunity for Federal WPS sustainability as the program matures. She stated that NSRP States WPS networks will be holding events and notable amongst them is the Kaduna state WPSN which will be collaborating with the State Ministry of Women’s Affairs to launch the Kaduna State Action Plan (KADSAP) on Friday 9th of December 2016.
RATIONALE
Opening remark was presented by Mrs Esther Eghobamien Mshelia, the Director, Women and Gender Affairs in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. She declared that the Ministry of Women Affair have a strong commitment in moving the UNSCR 1325 in Nigeria; Nigeria is one of the 58 countries with a NAP, but it outlived its validity in August 2016 and prior to its expiration, process for reviewing the NAP has been initiated in making it more relevant to our current realities in the country. She continued that the existence of plan does not translate into action but significant mobilizing and interaction is required for the implementation. She mentioned that a lot of implementation is going on in different sectors, but there is a problem with attributing or returning to UNSCR1325. She identified gaps in the review of the NAP which includes; Policies and Mobilization which does not translate to results, Articulation of the old NAP in the absence of insurgency, conflict managements will all be redressed in the new NAP. Also geographic distinctions in priorities of women and peace in Nigeria like cattle grazing, land ownership, adoption and kidnapping which forms priorities in different parts of the country are taken into consideration through zonal consultations and will be effected in the new NAP.
Presentation of UNOWAS and the Working Group on Women Peace and Security in West Africa (WGWPS) by Telou Kemealo Memadouname Agathe
Telou Kemealo Memadouname Agathe presented UNOWAS to the working group on women, peace and security with the vision statement: The WGWPS is an inclusive platform that seeks at building a world of peace and security where women are agents of conflicts prevention and peace building in the region.
And mission statement:
KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE WORKING GROUP
She mentioned the challenges and constraints of the WGWPS which are:
After the presentation of UNOWAS by Telou Kemealo Memadouname Agathe, the UNOWAS Working Group on Women Peace and Security was inaugurated, and the thematic group was established which are:
THEMATIC GROUP | INTERVENTION AREA | WORKING GROUP |
Advocacy and Promotion of Resolutions | Support of the promotion of UNSCR 1325 and subsequent following/ thematic group advocacy and promotion of resolutions | Led by:
FOMWAN DNF Strong Enough Girl GAT |
Communication strategy | The development of communication strategies and resource mobilization for members of the WGWPS-WA | Led by:
MPVTI DNF |
Capacity building | Capacity building of members of the working group | Led by:
IANSA |
Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of Resolutions 1325 and following of the UNSC | The development of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the implementation of the 1325 and subsequent resolutions of the UN Security Council. | Led by:
ASPANTI |
Research, documentation, dissemination and capitalization | The research promotion, documentation and capitalization of experiences, good practices and lessons learned on gender, peace and security in West Africa. | Led by:
WILPF ASPANTI |
Coordination | Coordination of all working groups | NSRP |
CONCLUSION
The discussion section formed the grouping of the working group into thematic areas and drafting of work plan for 2017 from the 2016 template in which the work plan was to be sent to the working group after drafting. The area of priorities from the group discussion was to focus on IDP camps while carrying out their various activities. The thematic groups were advised to meet to priorities their activities before the next general meeting
APPENDIX
Sign in List/Organizations represented are:
Ministry of Youth Development
ASPANTI (Association of Student Peace Ambassadors in Nigeria Tertiary Institutions)
FMWASD (Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development)
GAT (Gender Awareness Trust)/UNOWAS Representative in Nigeria
IANSA (International Action on Small Arms)
NSRP (Nigeria Stability Reconciliation Programme)
WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom)
FOMWAN
MWAN (Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria)
OXFAM
DNF (Dorothy Njemani Foundation)
Global Rights
Strong Enough Girls Empowerment Initiative
FIDA (Federation of Women Lawyers)
UNOWAS (United Nations Office of West Africa and Sahel)
MPVTI
AGENDA