BENUE WOMEN STAKEHOLDERS AGREE TO SETUP NATIONAL WOMEN MEDIATION NETWORK (NWMN)

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) a non-profit, non- governmental organization working “to bring together women of political, philosophical and religious backgrounds

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) a non-profit, non- governmental organization working “to bring together women of political, philosophical and religious backgrounds determined to study and make known the causes of war and work for a permanent peace” and to unite women worldwide to oppose oppression and exploitation on the 20th day of august, 2020 at Hallydays Hotel and Resorts held a one day consultative dialogue meeting with women peace and security actors in Benue State . The high level of insecurity and the prevalence of violent conflicts in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria and the present COVID-19 Pandemic situation has become a source of worry at all quarters hence the need to enhance women peace mediators’ collaboration with the State towards peace building advocacy.
Speaking to participants at the meeting the Executive Director Women Strategic Entrepreneur Initiative (WiSE Initiative) and State Contact Person for Nigeria Women Mediators Network (NWMN) Mrs. Magdalene Igbazua said to achieve the desired objective, WILPF Nigeria in collaboration with the Nigeria Women Mediators Network (NWMN) invited women stakeholders for a consultative dialogue and discussions on how to look at the women peace and security architecture in the State, mediation practices and as well as issues arising as a result of COVID-19 and mitigative actions.
Participants at the consultative meeting, after a thorough deliberation, revealed the following challenges and gaps in security issues in the state to include: inadequate Security agencies in communities, inadequate implementation of law and awareness, looming food insecurity, cattle rustling and other criminal activities like armed robbery, kidnapping that has made more people come under reprisal attacks. Other security challenges and gaps noticed within the state include: lack of political will in addressing the conflict, infamous conduct and activities of Traditional Rulers, culture of fear and silence among women, inadequate or lack of inclusion of women in peace building as well as inadequate synergy across Civil Society Organizations while inadequate media reportage of conflict along the gender dimension was also espoused.
The consultative dialogue meeting gave the women stakeholders an opportunity to share their experience on the roles different actors have been playing on issues of peace and security either in collaboration with government ministries like Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development or International Partners (IPs).
Highlight of the meeting was the introduction of the Nigeria Women Mediators Network (NWMN) and same was agreed to be established in Benue while identification of gaps for support in the areas of provision of platform for documentation for mediation activities, creating a network synergy between Benue and Nasarawa women stakeholders on early warning response and reportage, platform for success story reportage and Sponsorship of sensitization on mediation as well as, creating sustainability plan for security surveillance across crises prone communities were unanimously agree by the women while action plan to collate date for social media engagement and knowledge sharing and quick response were also taken.
Women Stakeholder cutting across Government Ministries and agencies like Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Justice, State owned Media Organization, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Women Professionals, Security agencies like the Police and Department of State Security Service (DSS), FIDA Benue , Forum of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Women wing of Christian Association of Nigeria and Women Association Leaders attended the meeting.

Advertisements!!!

Advertisements!!!

Advertisements!!!