In tandem with its mandate of engaging stakeholders’ to entrench the ideals of sustainable Peace and Peaceful co-existence amongst the diverse ethno religious groups in Plateau State, The Plateau State Peace Building Agency organized a 2Day conference on enhancing women’s potential in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and decision-making process.
The conference supported by GIZÂ held at Crest Hotel, Jos on the 21st and 22nd of April 2022 had the participants drawn from various women organizations, community women leaders and advocate groups.
In his welcome address, Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr Joseph Langmang represented by Gayi Timothy Gayi said the conference was about mainstreaming women in all peacebuilding activities, issues of peace and security, empowering women in terms of capacity to be able to contribute meaningfully into the peacebuilding process as well as seeking ways whereby women, in general, can be empowered, economically and socially and politically.
He stated that women are needed in every aspect of society as such if they are well informed and have a level of economic power or political activity then women will be able to contribute even better in peace-building activities.
The DG noted that this was also in tandem with United Nations Resolution 1325, which was adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council on 31 October 2000. The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.
The conference saw discussions held on the Conflict Stage and handling styles in the grassroots, the role of women in conflict prevention, effective communication in conflict, involvement of women in peacebuilding process, exploring the role of grassroots women in early warning and early response, leadership in peacebuilding and experience sharing sessions.
The Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) is an institutional framework established by the Simon Bako Lalong, led Government in response to the challenges of peace and security in the state. Their mandate is to promote the culture of peace and harmonious coexistence, among the various ethnoreligious divides on the Plateau.
