by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Over 50 cases of gender violations have been recorded by the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Rights Commission, out of which about 30 have been successfully mediated upon.
The Commission was established 8 months ago, and has secured one prosecution presently.
The Media Information Officer of the Commission, Mrs Nene Dung, disclosed this during the opening of a two days’ ‘Learning Exchange’ with for WPS structures in Plateau, Gombe and Adamawa at Valada Resort Hotel Jos, on Tuesday. The exercise was organised by CLEEN Foundation, with support from UN-Women and Norwegian Embassy.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter, said the exchange visit between the Project Secondary State platform and State Women Mediators in Plateau presents an opportunity for collaborative learning and capacity building in conflict resolution and mediation, particularly focusing on gender perspectives.
He explained that, “This is in pursuit of implantation of the State Action Pan (SAP) and the SDG 16. The importance of this gathering cannot be overemphasized. It is also aimed to leverage on local indigenous expertise and notional support to promote peace building initiatives in the respective regions.
“As we deliberate, let us bear in mind that we all are stakeholders, and we have the tools to maintain and expand our network of mediators, as well as support peace-focused initiatives for at all levels,” he stressed.
Gad Peter highlighted that, “It is also important to note that, this venture does not exclude the technical support of our formal security stakeholders, who help in providing safety and maintaining stability in our communities,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon Caroline P. Dafor (represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alex Antong) said, the WPS resolution have been instrumental in recognizing the critical role women play in conflict prevention, resolution, and peace-building.
She, however, noted that, “Their implementation remains a challenge. Learning exchange seeks to address this challenge by creating a platform for open dialogue and knowledge exchange between both primary state platforms.
According to her, “This is by sharing experience, analyzing everyday roles, functions, responsibilities and policies that can identify what enhances or hinders the implantation of UNSCR 1325 in states.”
The Commissioner further pointed out that, “The importance of this learning exchange cannot be overemphasized, because it complements the efforts of state, national government, and International organizations to ensure that WPS resolutions make a positive difference in the life of women, men, girls and boys, especially in conflicts affected communities..
“This is by creating channels for better coordination, cooperation and coherence among all stakeholders to ensure replication and sustainability of our efforts,” she stated.
She called on all stakeholders to delve into the complexities of conflicts in the region, exploring their root causes and the impact they have on communities, adding that, “The role of a woman in peace-building should be highlighted equally, too, through their straight and the challenges they face.”
She also stated that, “Best practices should be sacrosanct, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to conflict resolution and peace-building should be our major concern.”