UN Condemns Emerging Threats To Women’s Peace, Security

The United Nations Women (UN Women) has expressed concern about emerging threats to women’s peace and security (WPS), such as insurgency and endemic poverty, which must be addressed immediately.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Validation Workshop of the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on Women Peace and Security in Nigeria, the UN Women representative Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, said: “As we prepare to celebrate the twenty-fourth anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in October this year, we need to remind ourselves that there are emerging threats to women’s peace and security, including insurgency and endemic poverty.

She emphasised that: “It is critical to create an environment in which women can actively contribute and have their voices heard in developing and implementing solutions to address the root causes of conflict and promote peace at all levels.”

She stated that United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), unanimously adopted on October 31, 2000, has resulted in a shift in the architecture of peace processes and reconstruction, serving as a major catalyst for the advancement of gender equality and the promotion of women’s rights in the area of peace and security.

She continued, “The UNSCR 1325 builds on a body of international human rights laws and legal instruments and recognises that armed conflict affects women differently than men, and thus demands protection of women and girls before, during, and after armed conflict. It also recognises women’s roles as peacemakers and change agents and urges the United Nations and its member states, civil society, and the international community to increase women’s participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. “Prevention of conflict and all forms of violence against women and girls during and after conflicts.”

Eyong stated that Nigeria’s heroic decision to address contextualised women’s peace and security issues has been made possible by the adoption and implementation of the first and second National Action Plans (NAPs) on women, peace, and security, which were adopted in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Over the years, these efforts have contributed to remarkable achievements, including the domestication of laws and policies that protect women and girls rights; an increase in women’s participation and representation in traditional decision-making structures; establishment of functional women, peace, and security architecture; development of State Action Plans (SAPs) in sixteen states and local action plans; and enhancement of gender-responsive security sector through Furthermore, initiatives are underway to strengthen the enabling environment for diverse women and girls to play a greater role in peace and security decision-making processes, with the goal of achieving sustainable and integrated security that promotes ownership and accountability through inclusive governance and innovative financing systems.”

She stated, “It is important to note that the third NAP aligns with Nigeria’s national development priorities, and it is guided by and reflects the following important principles: (i) Strong political will; (ii) Do No Harm/Safeguarding; (iii) Legislative and compliance mechanisms; (iv) Intersectionality, ownership, and accountability; (v) Effective communication and reporting; and (vi) Improved coordination and partnership.”

She told the stakeholders: “To achieve a more inclusive, safe, peaceful, and prosperous society, we must work together to address women’s needs and integrate their perspectives in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and security processes.” UN Women remains committed to the WPS agenda and, more broadly, to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.”