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Promoting women's engagement in peace and security in northern Nigeria

24.09.2018
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The overall objective is to support the Government of Nigeria in promoting women’s engagement in peace and security in Northern Nigeria.

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The specific objective is to enhance women’s participation in peace building, emphasizing the importance of women for development and peace stability. The project is being implemented in three selected pilot states and at federal level.

 

Total Cost (EUR): 9 600 000.00

EU contracted amount (EUR): 9 600 000.00

Duration: April 2014 - March 2017

Implementing organisation: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN)

Funding Instrument: European Development Fund (EDF)

Benefitting zone: Nigeria

 

STORY: Promoting women's engagement in peace and security in northern Nigeria

“Violent conflicts, including attacks by the terrorist group ‘Boko Haram’ have persisted in Nigeria. This project adopts a number of strategic and sustainable approaches to improve women's participation in peace-building in target States, like the formation of a cadre of 121 community-based Women Peace Mentors, empowered to engage actively in conflict resolution processes in these States.”

Mrs Laolu Olawumi - Project Officer, EU Delegation to Nigeria - Abuja

CONTEXT

Women are usually the most affected by violent conflicts but yet are largely excluded from peace-building and conflict resolution processes due to factors like patriarchy, ignorance and other socio-cultural impediments. This project seeks to empower women mentors who will participate in peace-building processes in their communities as well as transfer the knowledge gained to other women.

OBJECTIVES

  • Enhance a conducive environment for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 at the national level and in selected states, Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Wards
  • Increase access to reporting mechanisms and protective services for girls and women affected by human rights abuses, including gender-based violence (GBV), in three states of northern Nigeria.
  • Enhance a conducive environment for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 at the national level and in selected states, Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Wards.
  • Gendered design and implementation of peace architecture, including forums for dialogue, early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms for conflict resolution.
  • Enhanced community peace-making capacities of women.
  • Improved local capacity to monitor report and document human rights situations affecting girls and women in 4 States in Northern Nigeria as well as improved response to specific needs/concerns of vulnerable women and girls.
  • Selective, participatory social mobilization (review of social norms) developed and implemented to prevent and mitigate risks and threats of gender-based violence in conflict context.

RESULTS

  • Mentoring beneficiaries are currently facilitating various forms of conflict prevention and peace-building initiatives, including dialogue, trust-building, reconciliation and mediation.
  • Reduction in conflicts over land ownership between members of Kaltungo and Billiri communities in Gombe State.
  • Reduction in cases of sexual harassment/rape of women and girls in Kindiyo Community of Balanga LGA as a direct effect of a peaceful demonstration organized by the women peace mentors.
  • After the popular massive demonstration which drew the attention of local authorities and community members on the increasing cases of gender-based violence (GBV), the various hangout spots for the sale of illegal drugs and substances were identified and shut down.

TESTIMONY

Safety of Women and Girls in Kindiyo Community

I have learnt that it is important for women to contribute to peace-building. The world is changing, and development is hindered where there is no peace.

In my community - Kindiyo in Balanga LGA, there was an increase in the number of reported cases of young men involved in drug abuse. These men were also alleged to be perpetrators of rape and sexual harrassment. In order to curb the unrest caused by these young men, the women who advocate for peace in my community were mobilized to a peaceful demonstration, marching with neem tree leaves on our heads, from one end of the town to the other. We also addressed the ward heads and the police men in the community, highlighting the need for measures to be put in place against drug abuse and rape.

After the demonstrations, and advocacy visits to the ward heads and security agents, the hangout spots where illegal drugs and substances were being sold were shut down. In my community, the cases of drug abuse and rape have decreased significantly, and peace has been restored.’’ - Mrs. Namiyu Bala (61 year old peace mentor in Gombe State).

FACTS AND FIGURES

  • Capacity of 250 Community and Religious leaders on conflict resolution in target LGAs in Gombe State strengthened.
  • Community dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence enhanced through cascading effect of transferring knowledge by mentees to 32 other women in 4 target LGAs of Gombe State.

  

Project category
Conflict Response
Address
Northern Nigeria
Editorial sections
Nigeria