Nigeria to launch national plan for women, peace, security

The launch is expected to take place on Tuesday.

Thirteen years after the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (SCR 1325) by the United Nations Security Council, UNSC, Nigeria is now set to launch the National Action Plan for its full implementation.

Its adoption marked the first time the Security Council addressed the disproportionate, as well as the unique impact of armed conflict on women by recognizing the under-valued and under-utilized contributions women make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peace-building. It also stressed the importance of women’s equal and full participation as active agents in peace and security.

The event is scheduled to hold on August 27 at the National Women for Development Centre, Abuja, while various stakeholders from the 36 states of Nigeria, international donor agencies, civil society organisations, and the United Nations will be in attendance.

The event is being put together by the Nigerian Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP, in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs.

A programme funded by the Department For International Development, DFID, NSRP is an initiative that represents an important opportunity to make significant progress on the issues of women and seeks to ensure that women participate actively in preventing conflict and peace building in Nigeria.

Besides providing support to the Nigerian Government for the drafting, implementation and monitoring of UNSCR Resolution 1325, NSRP also seeks to bring about peace through increased participation of women and girls in peace initiatives and the reduction of the prevalence and impact of violence against women and girls.

Recent reports indicate that peace and development in some parts of Nigeria have been disrupted by an array of security challenges including insurgency, domestic violence, sexual violence, etc. With the forthcoming event, the relevant ministries from the states will chart a compelling road map towards the implementation of this action plan on Women, Peace and Security.