Women urged to be proactive in promoting peace in the country


The Acting Director for the Department of Gender Children and Social Protection, Lena Alai, has called on women to be involved in peacekeeping, governance and civil society activities. 

She said empowerment of women in peacekeeping would enable them to participate in the fight for the rights of marginalised groups. 

Ms. Alai made the call at a day’s training on United Nations Security Council Regulation, UNSCR, and Ghana National Action Plan GHANAP 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Bolgatanga. 

The workshop was attended by participants from the Peace Council, Department of Gender, Regional Coordinating Councils and Civil Society Organisations working in the area of peace building and conflict management. 

It was to equip the participants with the knowledge to ensure effective implementation of Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP) 1325, a step towards mainstreaming gender and bringing more women into peace and security processes. 

Ms. Alai said the Ministry was working keenly on the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill to increase the number of women in politics to 40 per cent as well as equitable representation of chiefs and queen mothers in the Regional House of Chiefs. 

She said its passage would provide women the platform to discuss issues relating to conflicts and violence against women and address gender equality, equity and empowerment for national development. 

She said efforts to avoid conflict could succeed when society had equal stake in safeguarding peace. 

She noted that women played important role in national development and, therefore, should be involved in the building and promotion of peace. 

She said conflict occurred due to unfair violation and distribution of human rights and women were vulnerable in several ethnic conflicts which could be avoided. 

She said effective implementation of GHANAP 1325 will lead to an increase in the number of women in leadership positions in security sector institutions, their participation in the promotion of peace and resolution of conflicts, particularly, by supporting local peace initiatives of women. 

Ms. Alai said it will in addition prevent gender-based violence and protect the needs and rights of women and girls within the scope of peace missions, humanitarian operations and positions in the international UN and African Regional and Sub-Regional organisations. 

GHANAP 1325 will therefore ensure a coherent approach to the implementation of UNSCR1325 and the promotion of a gender perspective in Peace and Security. 

Ms. Alai said the National Action Plan consolidates all efforts to enhance women’s position and role as decision-making in conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building activities.

GBC