By Solo Eje
OBIARUKU/Nigeria: The Acting Chairman, Ukwuani Local Government Council, Dr F. O. Atube have said that the safety and security of women and the girl child are the panacea to a peaceful society as according to him, when the woman is safe and secured, the family and the society will naturally be in peace.
Dr. Atube said this in his encapsulated yet all encompassing response while playing host to Women Peace and Security Network in his office at the council’s secretariat in Obiaruku.
He praised the group for championing the course of women emancipation from sexual and gender molestation, discrimination, political violence, sexual violence, and other varying human rights violations and abuse.
Dr Atube who is also the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) of the council said, “I guarantee you that we shall meticulously study the document on the Local Action Plan (LAP) and do the needful as it pertains women in the local government”.
He assured the group that the council will do everything possible to make sure that the intended plans of the initiators of the Women Peace and Security Network does not suffer any form of lapses in the implementation.
In his words, “if you secure the woman, the family and the society is secured. Because of this, as men born of women and women born of women, we shall not allow the Network’s plans to suffer any lacuna associated with most NGOs plans and the implementation of such plans; we shall therefore make sure that the market women, the girl child in the most remote village in the local government benefits from your good plans”.
He however, pleaded with the group to allow the council some time to study the programmes/plans as contained in the documents handed over to the council and to know exactly what is expected of the Ukwuani Local Government LAP.
Earlier in his address, Dr Andrew Ogboro, the representative of the convener of the Women Peace and Security Network (WPSN), Mrs Ebruke Onajite Esike explained that WPSN is in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development and was initiated to give voice to the voiceless and to protect women and girls from the impact of armed conflicts; to push for the role of women in peace building and the gender dimension of peace processes and conflict resolution.
He stated that the objectives of WPSN are in line with the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security which was adopted on October 21, 2001.
Also, he noted that the National Action Plan (NAP), Delta State Action Plan (SAP) and the Ukwuani Local Government Local Action Plan (LAP) was initiated and developed in order to address issues of gender discrimination, sexual violence, political violence, exclusion, structural violence (institution or cultural) and other societal ills meted on women and girls.
Meanwhile, the WPSN have enjoined the Ukwuani Local Government Council, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and all stakeholders engaged in peace, security, governance, elections and other humanitarian endeavours to study the document on as they will find it invaluable.
A highlight of the visit was the presentation of the Ukwuani Local Government Area Local Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 booklet to the Acting Chairman, Dr. F. O Atube.
