Network on Peace and Security for Women in ECOWAS Launched

The Nigeria Chapter of the Network on Peace and Security for Women in ECOWAS was on the 2nd of February, 2021; inaugurated and launched in Abuja by the Minister of Women Affairs, Her Excellency, Dame Pauline Tallen.

The network for women in peace building has existed in the ECOWAS region since 2009 and has been involved in various peace processes. There have been calls for a Nigerian chapter owing to the great repertoire of resource persons who have worked in peace building over the years. It is also believed that a Nigerian Chapter would further harness these varying resources towards the enshrining of peace and security in the Nigeria of today.

The transnational dimension of conflict requires regional and global response towards tackling conflict through resolutions, peace negotiations and mediation. It is for this reason that the Economic Community of West African States established a network of women from the 15 members states under the platform of the Network on Peace and Security for Women in the ECOWAS region, NOPSWECO to coordinate and optimize women’s roles in conflict prevention, peace and security and the promotion of human rights.

Highlights

At the launch, NOPSWECO seized the opportunity to introduce its board members to the public, appointing state representatives and share statutes and rules of procedure of NOPSWECO. It was also an opportunity to present to the audience, key instruments like the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and Nigeria’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

Various stakeholders in their goodwill messages, underscored the importance of women peace networks in the pursuance of peace and security in the sub-region and commended Dr Lydia Umar the convener for taking the initiative to ensure that Nigeria is linked to the regional network alongside 14 other member countries in the ECOWAS region.