Violence against Women: Actionaid trains Committee to develop State Action Plan
ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Global Peace Development and the Nasarawa State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, on Monday trained a 30-members committee to develop Nasarawa State Action Plan (SAP) on Peace and Security of Women and the Girl-Child.
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The training was part of the implementation of the System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalisation to Violent Extreminism (SARVE) II project in Nasarawa, geared toward preventing violence and extreminism.
The SARVE II project according ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Mrs Ene Obi in her opening remarks, was in line with the National Action Plan for implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Obi, who was represented by Mr Anicetus Atakpu, ActionAid Resilience Programme Coordinator, said the mandate of the committee was to develop a workable SAP that would guarantee Peace and Security of Women and Girl child in the state.
The Country Director urged members of the committee to be resolute in executing the mandate, saying that issues of peace and security of women and Girls had to be put in perspective.
She reaffirmed her organisation’s resolve to support the cause of womanhood in all ramifications in view of the vulnerability of women and girl child.
“The philosophy of Actionaid is feminism; hence anything that will see to peace and security of women and girls is at the heart of ActionAid as an organisation.
“And so, I urge everyone of us to put in our best and to say that Actionaid is ready to support us as far as we can go. The bottom line to it all is that an average young girl and woman in Nasarawa State has peace and security,’’ She stated.
Also speaking, Mrs Asibi Ogabo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Samuel Tsebe said that developing such document became necessary to address relegation of women.
Mr Gbenro Olajuyigbe, lead facilitator at the training who spoke on “Women and Vulnerability,’’ said women had the capacity to change the narrative of how they were being treated in the society.
Olajuyigbe who is also the Executive Director Emergency Risk Alert Initiative said, “no nation can move anywhere without the contributions of women.
“Because when you exclude women in any affairs you will exclude the advantages and the contributions they can bring onboard to ignite development.’’
Some of the participants, Hajia Ramatu Musa and Barrister Justina Alu, described the proposed document as timely, while expressed optimism that the Nasarawa woman and Girl Child would be given the rightful place in every sector.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the committee was earlier inaugurated by the wife of Nasarawa state governor, Hajiya Silifat Sule.
NAN further reports that the training which was being funded by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) drew 30 participants from relevant organisations in the state.
