UNGA 76: African 1st Ladies Advocates For More Inclusion And Participation Of Women In Peace, Security

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First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and top women in Africa have called for the inclusion of more women in peace and security processes in Africa to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 5 on women empowerment.

Mrs Buhari made the call at a Stakeholders’ Luncheon in New York on “Accelerating women, Peace and Security in Africa within the SDGs Agenda”.

Reportedly the event was organized by the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) on the margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Buhari, represented by Mrs Mairo Al-Makura, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on African First Ladies Peace Mission, said women needed to be empowered to achieve sustainable peace in the continent.

“Women can achieve incredible change, conflict transformation and sustainable peace if we continue supporting and advocating for more inclusion and participation of women,” she said.

She advocated for more inclusion of women, in particular young women as equal partners in society with leadership and decision-making roles in Africa and across the globe.

The wife of the President of Nigeria said as we learned to live and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we should not relent in pushing forward the accelerator of the Women Peace Security (WPS).

She emphasized on pushing for accelerator of WPS and the SDGs agenda to improve the lives of women and young girls that would benefit us all.

Similarly, the First Lady of The Gambia, Mrs Fatoumatu Barrow, said the theme of the event resonated with The Gambia women, calling attention to the critical nexus between gender equality, human rights, peace, conflict, and development.

Fatoumatu also called on the international community, the UN, and African governments to expand and equally prioritize more meaningful participation of women in peace building, conflict prevention, security and sustainable development.

This will include women political leaders, women-oriented Civil Society Organizations and international development agencies, women leaders and organizations, down women in the homes,” she said.

According to him, in the face of persistent and complex violent conflicts and rising backlash against women’s rights in Africa, it is pertinent that our continent steps up efforts and bolsters solidarity.

“We should put actions in motion to take more seriously the need to accelerate the full inclusion of women in peace and security on the continent, especially if we must achieve the SDGs and the Agenda 2063.’’

In her remarks, Mrs Mairo Al-Makura said achieving peace and security through a gender lens approach remained a critical challenge for many communities in our member countries.

First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari and top women in Africa have called for the inclusion of more women in peace and security processes in Africa to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 5 on women empowerment.

Mrs Buhari made the call at a Stakeholders’ Luncheon in New York on “Accelerating women, Peace and Security in Africa within the SDGs Agenda”.

Reportedly the event was organized by the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) on the margins of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.

Buhari, represented by Mrs Mairo Al-Makura, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on African First Ladies Peace Mission, said women needed to be empowered to achieve sustainable peace in the continent.

“Women can achieve incredible change, conflict transformation and sustainable peace if we continue supporting and advocating for more inclusion and participation of women,” she said.

She advocated for more inclusion of women, in particular young women as equal partners in society with leadership and decision-making roles in Africa and across the globe.

The wife of the President of Nigeria said as we learned to live and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we should not relent in pushing forward the accelerator of the Women Peace Security (WPS).

She emphasized on pushing for accelerator of WPS and the SDGs agenda to improve the lives of women and young girls that would benefit us all.

Similarly, the First Lady of The Gambia, Mrs Fatoumatu Barrow, said the theme of the event resonated with The Gambia women, calling attention to the critical nexus between gender equality, human rights, peace, conflict, and development.

Fatoumatu also called on the international community, the UN, and African governments to expand and equally prioritize more meaningful participation of women in peace building, conflict prevention, security and sustainable development.

This will include women political leaders, women-oriented Civil Society Organizations and international development agencies, women leaders and organizations, down women in the homes,” she said.

According to him, in the face of persistent and complex violent conflicts and rising backlash against women’s rights in Africa, it is pertinent that our continent steps up efforts and bolsters solidarity.

“We should put actions in motion to take more seriously the need to accelerate the full inclusion of women in peace and security on the continent, especially if we must achieve the SDGs and the Agenda 2063.’’

In her remarks, Mrs Mairo Al-Makura said achieving peace and security through a gender lens approach remained a critical challenge for many communities in our member countries.