In view of the current global security challenges and the need for a holistic approach to peaceful resolution of crisis in Nigeria and the world, the Nigerian Government is to develop a roadmap for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, who disclosed this, said: “The overall goal of the process is to develop a National Action Plan for the implementation of the U.N Resolution 1325 in order to contribute to the National Agenda on women, peace and security.
“The government has viewed with serious concern, the growing vulnerability of women, children and other young persons and thus decided to make use of the international instrument to ensure that women’s natural role of nurturing mankind and endowment as Caregivers, are brought to the peace table.”
This, according to her, is to reaffirm the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace -building and to stress the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution.
To ensure a smooth process, Hajiya Maina said the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has been working closely with the United Nations Women, ECOWAS Gender Development Centre and Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme of DFID on contextual situational analysis of women, peace and security issues in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister stated that the findings of the research are to be articulated into a National Response in facilitating the identified Strategic Framework/National Action Plan designed to strengthen women and women organizations to participate in peace processes thereby ensuring that gender perspectives are captured.
In line with the UN Resolution 1325, Hajiya Maina described the move to kick start the process as a plus for women, children and other vulnerable groups in the country.
She expressed concern that civilians, particularly women and children, account for the vast majority of those adversely affected by natural disasters, civil strife, religious crisis, tribal and communal clashes including as internally displaced persons.
Resolution 1325 was adopted by the UN Security Council at its 4213th meeting, on October 31, 2000.
The resolution recognizes the urgent need to mainstream a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations.
Among other resolutions it requests the Secretary-General to provide to Member States training guidelines and materials on the protection, rights and the particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involving women in all peacekeeping and peace-building measures.
UN member states, by the resolution, are to incorporate these elements as well as HIV/AIDS awareness training into their national training programmes for military and civilian police personnel.