by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
It has been observed that gender representation to security management is crucial to the overall objectives of any security measures or decisions to restore normalcy and, that, management of international security can no longer be understood in one dimensional term as protection from external enemies.
Other nontraditional aspects of national security, the protection from internal enemies, ignorance and despair, especially as it concerns women in particular, must be entrenched.
This was disclosed by Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Gad Peter, during a one-day Interface Session with Security Stakeholders on Mediation Framework and Practice held at Crispan Hotel Jos, Plateau State, recently, organised by the Foundation.
According to him, the gender in peace support operations and why it is important to have women within the security formation is to improve operation and performance better access to communities, reflecting diversity in communities, building trust and confidence.
He noted also that, “Preventing and reducing conflicts and inspiring and creating role models, improving the participation of women in the security sector and peace building requires deliberate efforts to provide an enabling environment for women representatives at the top to serve as mentors to more women and girls.
“This would also ensure national security policies, which are both gender-sensitive and responsive,” he stressed.
He stressed that, “Over the past 70 years, more than 1 million men and women have served under the UN flag in more than 70 UN peacekeeping operations, and more than 100,000 military, police and civilian personnel from 125 countries currently serve in 14 peacekeeping operations as of July 2022.”
According to him, “Women were deployed in all areas – police, military and civilian. In 1993, women made up 1 percent of deployed uniformed personnel, while in 2020, out of approximately 95,000 peacekeepers, women constituted 4.8 percent of military contingents, 10.9 percent of formed police units and 34 percent of justice and corrections.”
Speaking earlier, Mr. Gad Peter said, the participant representatives are free from Security, the Army, Police, DSS, Operations Rainbow, among others, and women mediators to engage in a constructive dialogue on Mediation Framework and practices.
He said CLEEN Foundation is an organization that is rested on the shoulders of giants, considering it over 2 decades of engagement in the sector.
Mr. Gad Peter further pointed out that, the aim was to reflect a commitment to collaborative effort in addressing contemporary challenges that demand a collective response, adding that conflicts today are complex, multi-faceted, and often transcend traditional boundaries.
He explained that, “This is in recognition of this reality, that, the interface between the security stakeholders and mediation practitioners is crucial for developing holistic and sustainable solutions.
“It’s to also foster a shared understanding of mediation principles, to explore avenues for collection between security forces and mediation experts and to develop frame work for joint action and also aim to identify concrete steps that will enable us to work hand-in-hand in building a more peaceful and secure future.”
Speaking also, were the DSS, Mrs Victoria V.A., Major Aminu Mansur Mairuwa and CSP Anslem Felicia, who said there is the need to create room for more women participation in all aspects of security planning and management across the state.
They also urged CLEEN Foundation to take this advocacy to the higher level, invite the government, invite those who make decisions, which will make more impact, and assured that they would play their part by taking it where they can.
According to them, “The security agencies are giving women equal opportunities. Where you want to get to, start working, and get to where you can.
“Also, the Nigerian Army makes sure that the issue of respect of women is being given a priority; that is why we have put in place that the level-playing group is given to everybody. This is to ensure that we are gender-sensitive and we are gender-compliant,” they stated.