NAN-HG-10
Training
By Martha Agas
Jos, Nov 28, 2016 (NAN) The United Nations has engaged no fewer than 40 women as mentors to promote its peace and security programme in four local government areas of Plateau, an official has said.
Ms Sequester Surma, the Gender Technical Adviser of Women, Peace and Securty in Plateau stated this at a capacity building workshop in Jos on Monday.
The workshop was on “Gender and Equality Opportunities Law, Strategic Advocacy for Government Workers and Civil Society Organisations.”
Surma said the programme was community based and that it engaged women as mentors in coordinating activities that promote women peace and security as criteria for fast-tracking development.
“We are working with women mentors, community leaders and religious leaders as key opinion stakeholders in ensuring peace and security in the society.
In Plateau, we have 40 women mentors, among them five lead women mentors and 35 others spread across the local governments.
“We are building their capacity to be able to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325/
“It addresses the inordinate impact of war on women and the pivotal role women should play in conflict management, resolution, and sustainable peace to curb violence especially at the grassroots.
“The UN Women programme `Promoting women engagement in peace and security in northern Nigeria, is in four local governments of Wase, Riyom, Mangu and Jos North in Plateau and engages women leaders in 16 communities.
“We also fund some CSOs to help in coordinating programmes in these selected communities as it relates to women peace and security’’, she said.
“The WPS programme implementation is funded by the European Union in collaboration with UNICEF and the Federal Government of Nigeria and focuses on Plateau, Adamawa and Gombe States.
Surma said the training was to build the capacity of staff of the state’s Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development on Strategic Advocacy for Gender Equality.
Mrs Rufina Gurumyen, the Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, commended the UN for its supportive role in efforts to curb gender violence in the State.
The commissioner, represented by Mr Pwajok Mangs, Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry also said that the federal government had made donations of relief materials to people with disabilities at the grassroots in the state .(NAN).
MAA/ECN/IEA
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Idahosa Asowata