Plateau govt calls for women involvement in crises mitigation

The Plateau State government has called for women involvement in crises mitigation, the state Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rufina Gurumyen, has said.

She called on women to step into the current crises in the state for amicable resolution.

She decried the resurgence of crisis in some parts of the state and said that women engagement in peace building processes can curb the menace.

The Commissioner stated this yesterday at the Stakeholders’ Validation Workshop to review and adopt Plateau State Action Plan (SAP) on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 organised by the United Nations in Jos.

Represented by Mrs Hassana Ayika Gurumyen, she said the crisis had adverse effects on women and children who were one of the most vulnerable groups in the society.

“If women are optimally engaged in peace building processes, there probably may not be crises in Plateau,” she said.

She expressed the worry that emerging issues affecting women posed a threat to the progress of any society.

She also called for the abolition of all harmful social and traditional practices of women.

According to her, it is worrisome that women because of instability in the society are now engaged in drug abuse, child trafficking, and kidnap.

“They are also in possession of fire arms, engaged in armed robbery and are agents of planting bombs in public areas.

“Participants should ensure that SAP incorporates women engagement in governance by making their presence felt in traditional councils in other communities in Plateau and creating enabling environments for them to be engaged in the forth coming local government polls”, she said.

In her remarks, Ms Sewuese Surma, the UN Women Gender and Technical Advisor in Plateau, said the objective of the meeting was to ensure that women rights were protected and promoted in the peace and security plan in Plateau.

Surma said the validation was necessary to capture and bridge gaps in the emerging security challenges in Plateau which was not previously captured in Plateau SAP document.

Mrs Fatima Suleiman, the Coordinator, Women Peace and Security Network (WPSN) in Plateau, said there was a need to establish desk officers for women and children in all organisations in the state.

According to her, the number of women in positions of decision making in the state was very low.

Our correspondent reports that UNSCR 1325 bothers on gender parity at all levels of decision making amongst others.

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos