By Labaran Tijani
Against the backdrop of the vulnerability of women and children in crisis period, ActionAid Nigeria, an International non governmental humanitarian organisation has urged women folks in Kogi state to key into the state Action Plan for Peace and Security of Women and Children to lessen burden of violence on them.
The ActionAid Country Director, Mrs Ene Obi disclosed this in Lokoja on Tuesday at the sensitization for Peace and Security program for women and children which was observed in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and social Development.
Mrs Obi who was represented by Anicetus Atakpu , Acting Coordinator, Humanitarian and Resilience Unit, ActionAid Nigeria stated that the move to enlighten the women group of the implication of peace and security was not only meant for today’s women and children, but to safeguard those yet unborn, from the effect of violent future crisis .
Drawing from the recent celebrated sad case of a minor, Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje who died from complication resulting from rape and the raping of an over 80-year grandmother to death recently, Mrs Obi advised women group to make issue of security their watch words to avoid such painful ultimately death.
“When there is violent, women and children suffers, in the crisis period, women pays more. Despite this sad experience, women are not represented in decision making. In kogi state House of Assembly of today, the chairman of House Committee on women Affairs, including the members are men. This no doubt will affect decision on women or gender issues”, he said.
In the light of above, the Country Director urged women group not to take things that affect their life negatively for granted, but to be conscious of happenings around their immediate family and imbibe the culture of the new state security plan, for a better and secured living.
Earlier, the state commissioner of Women Affairs and Social development, Mrs Ampitan Bolanle said the heightening case of insecurity, with attendance consequence on the women and children is becoming freighting, as such the state government has to come out with Action Plan for Peace and Security to safeguard the right of women folks and children in the society.
She therefore called on the State government, stakeholders and sectoral leaders to accept the recommendation of the state advisory committee on peace and security headed by Steve Arome Negedu which was premised on, among others, increase in visibility representation in leaderships, inclusion of women in conflict resolution, promotion of peace and committing lawmakers to accept women in resolving gender issues as well as provision of adequate and special humanitarian services for women in the society.
The commissioner of Women Affairs and social development that was represented by Hon.Nana Ako , Senior Special Assistant on women Affairs said “if women are not represented, if women are economically backward, if there is lack of institutional supports for women, they are not secured in the society”.
She said the state Action plan on Peace and Security was modelled in interdem with United Nation Security Council (UNSC) resolution of October 31, 2000 which addressed the impart of war on women and their roles in conflict resolution, urging the women group to key into it without reservation.
