By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is set to commence the implementation of a project with specific focus on Promoting the Inclusion of Women in Peace Building and Conflict mitigation across vulnerable communities in Plateau State, Nigeria, the Country Vice President/National President FIDA Nigeria, Mrs Amina Suzanah Agbaje has said.
According to her, on this project, FIDA Nigeria will partner with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (“DFATD”) CANADA to implement a Canadian funded local initiative intervention.
The National Programme Manager, FIDA Nigeria, Mr Fikih Obaro, in a statement emphasized on the purpose of the project which is designed to build a cohort of Women in advancing Peacebuilding across two vulnerable communities namely Ta-Hoss community, in Riyom Local Government Area and Kwok community in Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau State, North -Central Nigeria.
This intervention will be advanced through building skill sets of community-based women leaders especially within a conflict-context as they require a deeper understanding of the dynamics and nuances of such environment in addressing the prevailing gender issues affecting security operations and community dialogues.
This intervention affirms that women in conflict-ridden societies, possesses important strategic insights and competencies for addressing security challenges and underlying factors.
The specific objectives of the project are to:
• Establish the roles of women as peace builders and mediators in focal communities.
• Provide a platform for shared learning on participatory peace process by women amongst local communities
• Enhance a collaborative and coordinated approach between security agencies & focal communities in mitigating conflicts.
Consequently, the project will take into context the local dynamics on gender roles while seeking to empower women through culturally reflective strategies to participate effectively in the protection of their communities through peace-building efforts.
Through mapping of community peace-building forums and networks, the intervention will deliberately seek local women’s participation in the intervention, to challenge and change existing narratives on the role of women in peace and security, that seek to dis-empower them.
The project will be implemented over an eight-months period and will support existing peace-building architectures; and relevant state and non-state actors in the state will be enabled to respond on security threats /issues identified and escalated at the community level by women who will serve as community safety partners.
FIDA Nigeria was established in 1964 with its main objectives being to establish friendly international relations on the basis of equality and mutual respect for all peoples; to preserve the rights and welfare of women, children and persons with disabilities, realising that the happiness of the home and the strength of the society is dependent on their wellbeing and to proffer advice to Government in all cases of disregard relating to women and children.
