Peace Building: Mercy Corps Calls For Action … Says, Women Are Good Conflict Managers

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

Women have been described as good conflict managers. This is evidence in their God given role of keeping the home together.

As home makers and agent of peace. If given the needed inclusiveness in decision making, they will help to turn the tide, making the nation a better place.

This revelation was made during the Kaduna North Women, Peace, Security fora that brought together relevant stakeholders which included people with disability in order to chart a way forward.

Speaking, the President of Network on Peace and Security for Women in the ECOWAS Region Dr. Lydia Umar said Document 1325 has provided women the needed opportunity to exert their qualities.

However, she lamented that despite provisions made by the document, many women are yet to come to terms with the laudable opportunities availed them.

She said, “you cannot talk of ‘Resolution 1325 without talking of National Action Plan. (NAP).

National Action Plan rests on five pillars. We call them 5ps, she sounded.

These 5Ps revolve round the following.

Prevention and disaster preparedness.

Participation and representation. Not only in matters of peace but also in politics. Only when women participate that things will go right.

Protection and prosecution is another one. Whatever government does, government must protect.

The fourth one is crisis management, early recovery and post conflict reconstruction.

The fifth one is partnership coordination and management which says there is need to partner with others because you cannot do things alone.

She explained that by taking advantage of the provisions made by 5Ps, Nigeria will be a better place to live in because women have all it takes to get there.

Dr. Lydia commended Kaduna State Government’s efforts in developing National Action Plan (NAP) as well as passing laws that are in support of Women Peace and Security. She said If these laws come to fission, it will go a long way in taking care of the lingering issue of violence Against women.

She urged women to cultivate the habit of reading so as to be enlightened on things around them thus contribute positively to the development of the country. A lot of women she said spend valuable time watching films. There is need for attitudinal change. She emphasized.

Women need to be represented in all  decision making mechanisms. Citing the political scenario using the Kaduna state House of Assembly where there is only one woman representative as an example. In such a case, women voices cannot be heard.

There is need to make their voices heard. Women she said should stop seeking for position of Women leaders rather should seek for elective post. Women should help in carrying messages of peace and development.

Dr. Lydia however stated that women are not competing with the men.

She faulted the usual misconception by most men that women are trying to rub shoulders with them, saying, they are

only grabbing what is theirs.

Stressing further, one of the speakers, Rev. Rose Northcott, from Interfaith Mediation Center (partnering with Mercy Corps) said God already has defined different roles for men and women as such the issue of rubbing shoulders with the men is out of the question. Women she said are endowed with certain qualities which unfortunately are hindered by societal norms.

Rev Rose explained that doing away with these impediments will give the women the opportunity to contribute positively to the growth of the society.

Women should be included in peace building. Aside the fact that they constitute more than half of any community, they have the capacity to course crisis as well as make peace.

They are the central caretakers. She submitted.

The presenter urged participants to step down what they have learnt to women in their various communities.

She charged them to be upfront. To take their roles in peace building seriously.

“Women, let us arise and take up the opportunity. You should try and make impact in your communities, try and promote peace. If there is peace within me, within my community, will there be crisis?

Women are known to avoid and avert conflicts”. She added.

A resource person from Kaduna Peace Commission, Barau Emmanuel has described early warning signal of conflict as very important.

While educating participants on Conflict Early Warning, Early Response System,  (CEWERS) he said, “it is a system that allows you to raise early warning signal that will help you take action before it (conflict or crisis) becomes violent.

Barau encouraged individuals to always assist the commission with early information regarding cases of conflicts in order that necessary mechanisms are put in place to avert it being turned violent. Even while cases of crisis are on, it can still be reported through their E-mail or sms.

According to him, “Peace Commission collects trends of conflicts from individuals, analyse it, and try to prevent it from turning violent. With data collected, you can predict what is going to happen. You can tell where it can happen and think of appropriate actions to be taken. Sometimes we send some stakeholders to help us resolve it. However, the kind of conflict determines the actions to be taken. Not all incidences of conflicts require military intervention.There are some that are civil cases.” He said.

Explaining further,

“Because people can play pranks, a mechanism is put in place by the commission in LGAs of Kaduna state.

There are Local Government Peace Committees established in LGAs of Kaduna state and some are already working.

The commission aside working with “tension managers’ comprising  relevant stakeholders such as Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Jamaatul Nastrul Islam, (GNI) the community leaders,  police, State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA) amongst others who serve as respondents and of help during crisis, the commission also has its on monitoring gadgets.

“Before the commission takes action on information given, there is always verification made from ‘Tension Managers’ located in different local government areas of the state.

By these early warnings, the commission raises alert so that people can be warned. For instance in the case of someone intending to travel to these conflicts area, such person gets the  warning and adequate prevention is taken.

Law No.4 of 1917 established Peace Commission. He said.

Despite appreciating the work of the commission, participants however believe there is need for improvement.

In his own contribution, the traditional ruler, the Alimi Gabasawa, (Dan galadima Zauzzua) Alhaji Ibrahim Dikko  said women are to grab opportunities availed them rather than waiting for a push from the men

According to him, one of the things that is keeping our society backward is the non involvement and non- charlant attitude of the womenfolk.

Women he said constitute about 57 percent of the society and that they are docile and inactive while in the other clan, they are the most attractive part of the population.

 He cited examples of some women of substance who in those days made it to the top. The likes of the late Gambo Sawaba, late Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, and late warrior, Queen Amina of Zauzzua who fought fiercely and conquered many territories during her reign.

The present Director General, World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo- lweala and Finance Minister, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed he also gave as shinning examples.

Women are known to compete favourably with men in institutions of learning and places of work.  He added.

The Akimi speaking through  his representative, the Dan Masanin Gabasawa, Alhaji Muhammed Attahiru

said traditional leaders play vital role in crisis management within their localities.

Because they are better informed and on the know of pockets of conflicts within their communities they are able to nip on board these conflicts  before escalating to violence.

There is need therefore for inclusiveness of both religious and traditional leaders in decision making since they are closer to the people at the grassroot for the disconnect he said slows down successes.

“Our challenges in the traditional set-up is the disconnect between the formal administration of peaceful mechanism and the traditional set-up.

You find out that while the government is doing one thing, we are doing another. Entirely different thing. And the truth is that we are closest to the grassroot and crisis start from the grassroot.”

Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, the Chairperson, Mercy Corps Kaduna North, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu said the event is meant to sensitize the women on what they need to equip themselves as Peace Ambassadors.