OYHA Makes Case for Domestication of Women’s Peace Security Agenda

By Mosope Kehinde 

As part of the effort towards realizing a more peaceful and gender-equitable society, the Oyo State House of Assembly has urged the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion to collaborate with the United Nations Women and other technical partners for support on the adoption of the resolution of the United Nations, UNSCR 1325.

The urge was contained in a motion presented before the House by the lawmaker representing Ibadan North state constituency II, Honourable Comforter Olajide at the plenary on Wednesday.

The motion was titled, ‘Need for Urgent Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and National Action Plans (NAPS) to Develop State Action Plan (SAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Towards Realizing a More Peaceful and Gender-Equitable Society in Oyo State’.

Jointly sponsored the motion were Honourable 0. M. Micheal, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, Honourable Akintunde Olajide, and Rilwan Saminu.

The motion is to increase participation and address the needs and challenges of women in the promotion of peace and security.

Honourable Comforter identified violence, sexual assault, food insecurity, and internal displacement as issues affecting the rise of women’s rights in Nigeria, thereby exposing them to various forms of sexual and gender-based violence.

The lawmaker disclosed that the records of the Oyo State Gender Violence Response Team have indicated an increase in the number of violence against women from 132 cases in 2019 to 768 cases in 2021 occasioned by the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honourable Comforter maintained that rigid and cultural norms, low level of literacy, weak legal framework, non-inclusion of women in formal peace-building and conflict resolution processes, and weak capacity of existing government institutions, particularly in the justice sector are factors responsible for the increment in the number.

“Aware that the pervasiveness of violence against women has been attributed to a variety of factors, rigid and cultural norms, low level of literacy, weak legal framework, non-inclusion of women in formal peacebuilding and conflict resolution processes, and weak capacity of existing government institutions, particularly in the justice sector. 

“These and many other reasons have made the United Nations Security Council adopt Resolution 1325 in 2000. UNSCR 1325 introduces the important roles and responsibilities of women in constructing and enduring peace and security architectural framework. It outlines a comprehensive profile and strategic mechanism for the protection, promotion, and participation of women in peace processes.”

In her prayers, Honourable Comforter Olajide, called for a policy framework to enable the state to domesticate the National Action Plan (NAP) to develop the State Action Plan (SAP) on UNSCR 1325 to ensure that the state benefits from numerous grants and programs associated with the Women, Peace & Security Agenda.

“Concerned that among the 16 States in Nigeria that have developed and domesticated the NAP into SAP include Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Rivers, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Nassarawa, Kwara, and Ekiti. Thus, there is a dire need to ensure that Oyo State benefits from numerous grants and programs associated with the Women, Peace & Security,WPS, Agenda. The development of a State Action Plan on WPS is not only a strategy for gender equality but also a means to promote sustainable peace and security.

“By incorporating a gender perspective and addressing the specific needs of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, our state can create more inclusive and effective policies and programs. By aligning Oyo State with the women’s peace and security, WPS, agenda and by developing a State Action Plan, the state can access grants and programs that support gender-sensitive policies, women empowerment, and peace-building efforts by so doing, Oyo State would also be demonstrating a commitment to promoting the rights, and well-being of women, which contributes to a more just and peaceful society, in overall, empowering women is empowering the whole nation,” Hon. Olajide said.

The Speaker, while passing the resolutions, urged the concerned ministry to collaborate with the United Nations Women and other technical partners for support on the adoption of the resolution.

“I Urge the Executive Arm of Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion to collaborate with the UN Women, an organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s rights and ensure that every woman and girl live up to her full potential, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and other relevant technical partners to have necessary technical support for the adoption of the State Action Plan on WPS to enable our Pace Setting state to have access to grants, interventions and programmes,” Ogundoyin said.

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