NGO Seeks inclusion of Women in Peace Building Process
2 min read
By MBACHU GODWIN, Abuja
A Non governmental Organization, Ark and Rainbow Development Foundation has called on the Federal government to engage women in its Peace Building process and Climate change initiatives, saying that women are primary agents of change and have first hand adverse effects in conflicts, war crisis and climate challenges.
It urged the relevant agencies and stakeholders to partner with the organization to empower and train young women in Peace Building and environmental protection.
Speaking to Journalists at the weekend in Abuja at a Stakeholders’ Summit on the theme: Women, Peace and the Planet: Advancing Sustainable Communities Together, Bar Ifenla Oligbinde, Executive Director, explained that the summit was organized to have conversations on how to equip and empower women on Peace Building and Protecting their environment as well as advocate for the inclusion of Women in peace building process.
Oligbinde claimed that over the years women have been marginalized and discriminated upon in climate change actions and peace building process, adding that it was time for the government to localise solutions on Peace Building and climate change by engaging the women more in policy and decision making .
The initiative is a community-based project that aims to train, equip and empower young women leaders on Peace Building and climate change .
She noted that the foundation has trained 23 young women between ages 25–35 in all the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT with skills in peacebuilding and environmental sustainability
Oligbinde said ” One of the purposes for organizing this summit, Strengthening Her Aspirations For Peace Building and Protecting the Environment ( SHAPPE) is a petty project to have proper conversation with stakeholders, because over the years women feel disadvantaged, marginalized and discriminated upon when it comes to peace building efforts and climate action. We believed that we can have this conversation so that women are empowered , trained and encouraged to be involved in peace building engagement.
We believed that ,if you look at what happened in Benue state a couple of months ago, the situation about conflict issues, communal clashes , environmental problems , they are connected, we cannot take away religious perception and cultural background from these issues, you will see that it is time for the government to localise solutions and engage women .
“for instance, women are people who feel experience on climate change and conflict , when they engage women into policy and decision making, they will ensure that a proper solution action would be made.
“We , therefore call on all critical stakeholders on Peace Building and Environmental to ensure all hands are on deck for women to be empowered in peace building and climate change process because women are primary agents of change and are first hand adverse effects in conflict, war crisis and climate challenges.
“When they are given adequate resources and empowerment they will protect their families, immediate environment and the World at large.
We want the government agencies to partner with us in empowering women and keeping our environment clean”.
