…Say, our vulnerability during crisis is our strength to advocate for peaceful conflict resolution
Kaduna State government in conjunction with the United Nations Women (UN Women) have concluded plans to return, promote and sustain peace and security in the State.
The women noted that each time there was crisis in a community, they are more vulnerable to the negative effects of conflicts, adding that ironically the vulnerability is always their source of strength and conviction to be managers of violence situation.
Briefing members of the State Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu on a courtesy and advocate visit disclosed that an advocacy programme under Kaduna State Action Plan KADSAP 2 will be launched before the year runs out to address Insecurity and conflicts across the State.
She said KADSAP 1 was inaugurated three years ago which has come to an end following a 3-year life span.
According to the Commissioner, “It is against the above background that UN Women signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), to support the development of the KADSAP 2 for the implementation of the UNSCR 1325”.
In her remarks before the NUJ Exco, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, said, “Any time there is conflict in any community, women and children are the most vulnerable. Our vulnerability is also ability for success. We are not vulnerable because we are weak. The vulnerability is because we are peace maker. Anywhere you have peace, it is the women that are dialogue managers because we want peace. Peace gives us free meal to take care of our children, take care of our husbands, to take care of our parents. We are the managers of every home. And we are the right people to channel peace to the general public.
“That is why the United Nations deem it right that women should be champions of peace and security in the world, and Kaduna State is not left behind. The Kaduna State Action Plan(KADSAP 1) started three years ago, it had three years life span. The KADSAP 2 will be launched by the State governor, Uba Sani later this month or first week of December. Four women journalists from the women wing of Kaduna NUJ are going to be part of this KADSAP 2. They are part of the 30 delegates which the governor is going to launch soon. And they are going to work for three years. They will go with us to United Nations, to Abuja and to Kaduna State because of the urgency and importance of this KADSAP programme.
“Any time people talk about Kaduna State because of our diversity, and past problems that they had encountered; religious problem, cultural, herders/farmers crisis and so many crises that has become part of the history of Kaduna and we wish it remained history. We are one despite religious, cultural, ethnic and colour difference. We are one. First and foremost we are citizens of Kaduna State. This is what we want to promote. We are brothers and sisters in humanity. So it is this programme that is going to advocate togetherness. What we have peacefully experienced in the past before the coming of these so many conflict entrepreneurs that has come into us and divided Kaduna into two.
“The State also experienced persistent and continued widespread violent conflicts worsened by criminal activities such as banditry, kidnapping for ransom, abductions, and farmer/herder clashes. Others are post election crises, climate change and resource-induced conflicts.
“In spite of government, communities and CSOs efforts; women and girls especially those in captivity, continue to be raped, sexually assaulted and forced into marriages by their captives.
“Emerging trends have also shown that these bandits conscript women into their criminal activities, mostly as arm couriers because they are less likely to be suspected.
“Though women in the State constitute a good percentage of the population and contribute in many informal ways to conflict resolution, they continue to be poorly represented in formal peace processes and in appointed and elected decision-making positions”.
Responding, the NUJ chairman, Hajiya Asma’u Yawo Halilu who was represented by the Vice chairman, Daniel Duniya thanked the commissioner for the visit, promising that journalists will give the programme the much needed publicity, “, because we have no option than to promote any programme that will promote security and peaceful coexistence among citizenry”.
Source: Daylight Reporters
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