Prioritise WPS To End Violence Against Women, Girls

This article describes a call the Technical Consultant to UN Women-Women Peace and Security Project, Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia made, for the Nigerian government to prioritise WPS issues outlines in Nigeria's NAP. 

Read or download the article below, or read the original by the Street Journal published January 23, 2018 here.

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The Technical Consultant to UN Women-Women Peace and Security Project, Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia has called on the Federal Government to prioritise Women Peace and Security (WPS) issues as outlined in Nigeria’s 2nd National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementations of United Nations Resolution 1325 otherwise known as UNSCR 1325, to end violence against women.

Mrs Eghobamiem-Mshelia made the call while speaking during 16 days of activism to end violence against women in Abuja.

According to her, the implementation of WPS issues will assist the nation in reducing all forms of violence against women and girls and help to deliver on globally agreed development plans and targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.

She said: ”Notwithstanding, the NAP overall proved to be a useful tool for galvanizing action. It has helped to awaken many stakeholders and promoted system wide approaches for mainstreaming gender into Human Security concerns including within the peace architecture of states and local communities. It has further helped to measure four key indices necessary for attaining WPS objectives namely:- political will; accountability, responsiveness and Inclusivity”

She posited that there is a growing recognition that women in conflict situations must be viewed not only as victims, but also as powerful agents for peace and security in their communities, adding that women’s gender roles have placed them in positions where they act as first responders in providing humanitarian assistance, care and support to their families and members of the community especially in Nigeria.

”In Plateau State for example, through daily purchases, market women can often tell when there is likely to be crisis. In some situations, women act as ‘peace-builders’ and play a reconciliatory role within the community. However, it should be noted that women can also be perpetuators of violence – as seen recently in media reports and in some cases in the North East where besides being used as human battle shields, women and girls have played the role of suicide bombers”, she said.