As the world commemorates 25 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Oyo State under the able leadership of His Excellency Governor Makinde awaits the implementation of the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security agenda recently validated by Mr President in order to do the needful with regards to Domestication of the 3rd National Action Plan on Women, Peace & Security through the State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion.
This underscores His Excellency’s commitment to the ideals of inclusive peace building and gender-responsive security.
Adopted on October 31, 2000, the landmark resolution recognises the unique impact of Sexual & Gender Based Violence and the impact of Conflict situations on women and girls .The resolution underscores the fact that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the intentional and meaningful inclusion and participation of women in peace and security processes.
We face a changing security context, characterised by hybrid threats, including intimate partner violence,technology enabled forms of SGBV like revenge porn,other forms of sexual and gender based violence, disinformation, food insecurity and the increasing weaponisation of suffering.
Women human rights defenders and peacebuilders keep being targets of attacks and threats in many parts of the world. This is less than ideal. We must address the disproportionate effect that Sexual & Gender Based Violence and armed conflict continue to have on women and girls worldwide, as well as the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence, offline and online, must remain highest priority.
Third National Action Plan
The Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, has developed and just recently validated the Third National Action Plan (NAP 3) on Women, Peace and Security, which is set for official launch soon.
The new plan integrates robust mechanisms for implementation, monitoring, and reporting, and was developed through a multi-sectoral approach that involved government agencies, academia, the media, traditional leaders, communities, and civil society organisations, thereby strengthening inclusivity, legitimacy, and ownership across all levels.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to gender-responsive peacebuilding, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasises that “our shared future depends on the inclusive peace we build today.”
She describes women’s intentional inclusion in peace processes as “not optional but essential”, stating that :
“President Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, reinforcing Nigeria’s dedication to inclusive peace-building and gender-responsive security.”
UN Women Reaffirms Global Mandate
UN Women notes that gender responsive security is not a favour to women but a prerequisite for lasting peace. In a statement reflecting on 25 years of UNSCR 1325, it stressed that when women are involved in conflict resolution, sustainable peace follows.
The UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong reaffirmed UN Women’s global commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda, describing it as a “blueprint” for inclusive governance and sustainable peace.
Eyong agrees that while Nigeria has made significant progress through successive National Action Plans, there is an urgent need to scale up financing and institutional support for grassroots women’s peacebuilding networks, particularly in conflict-affected areas.
“Empowering women mediators is crucial as evidence shows that when women participate in peace processes as negotiators, mediators, signatories, and witnesses, the probability of an agreement lasting at least 15 years increases by 35 per cent.” She added.
UN Women National Programme Officer on WPS Amina Akano-Bello, said Nigeria has so far implemented two National Action Plans (NAP) and currently 16 states and 22 local government areas have localised the NAP; thereby expanding opportunities for women-led mediation and peacebuilding in Nigeria.
Progress and Imperatives
The soon-to-be-launched third NAP builds on this foundation while aligning with the Beijing+30 Agenda, which calls for the full financing of gender equality and peace initiatives.
Despite notable progress, challenges persist in the area of women’s representation in governance, this justifies the increased agitation for the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill recently
The Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Inclusion noted that women currently occupy only 4.7% of elected legislative positions at the federal and state levels, a dismal and disconcerting figure that underscores the urgent need for stronger policy frameworks to enhance women’s participation in governance, mediation, secure and peace processes.
Going Forward
Stakeholders agree that the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) framework remains both a national priority and a moral imperative for sustainable development.
The Third National Action Plan (NAP 3) is anchored on four foundational pillars;
Prevention, Protection, Participation, and Relief & Recovery — each addressing distinct aspects of peace and security through a gender lens.
Under Prevention, the plan seeks to tackle root causes of conflict and gender-based violence, while Protection focuses on safeguarding the rights and dignity of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations.
The Participation pillar promotes women’s inclusion in leadership across governance, peacebuilding, and security structures, while the Relief and Recovery Pillars embody women’s access to livelihood support, humanitarian aid, and rehabilitation in SGBV prevalent and crisis-affected areas.
A UN Women statement titled “How to end wars: Invest in the Women, Peace and Security agenda” validates the forgoing as follows:
“When women are involved at the negotiating table, there is a greater likelihood of attaining inclusive and longer lasting peace“
But 25 years after the launch of the Women, Peace and Security agenda – when world leaders acknowledged war’s horrific impacts on women and girls, and enshrined women’s right to equal participation in peace processes – governments are enjoined to do more to fulfil their obligations of involving women more in conflict resolution,security interventions,peace building and peace sustenance interventions
“We will see progress when nations and states support WPS 1325 not just as policy, but as a growing social movement that reaches across generations.
UN Women stated further that: When women are involved in peace building and security entrenchment processes, peace endures longer
Conclusion
As Nigeria joins the international community to commemorate 25 years of UNSCR 1325 and 30 years of the Beijing Declaration, the call to action remains urgent and clear: “without the intentional involvement of women, peace cannot last.”
When women with capacity to add value to governance and nation building are involved in leadership,peacebuilding and security initiatives,, nations rise; when their voices are heard and taken into consideration when critical decisions are being made,peace becomes more likely to endure
Finally, we at the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Inclusion will continue to engage actively with women’s organisations and women human rights defenders working in SGBV prevalent, conflict-related settings, as well as women mediators, women journalists and media workers and peace-builders.
We will continue to work with them on conflict prevention, countering violent extremism and radicalisation, peace negotiations and peacebuilding, climate, peace, and security, humanitarian actions,sustainable empowerment and development programmes, through bilateral and multilateral engagements and interventions.
We also eagerly await the official launch of the recently validated 3rd National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security by the Federal arm of government in order to Domesticate its provisions in the best interest of our dear state.
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