UN Women launches Baseline Survey Report on the engagement of women in Peace and Security Processes in Northern Nigeria
Date:
Abuja, 14th October, 2016 – The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), under the Northern Nigeria Women, Peace and Security Programme funded by the European Union, launched a Baseline Survey Report at Rockview Hotel, Abuja on the 13th of October, 2016. A total of 90 partners and stakeholders of the Programme were in attendance. These include staff of UN Women, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), UFUK Dialogue, Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP), UN Women Media Network, UN Women Peace Mentors, traditional rulers, academia, security agencies and the media.
UN Women launches the survey report
The Baseline Survey was conducted in Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau States to generate findings on the nature and level of women’s participation in peace building and conflict management processes in the target states; the level of access girls and women affected by violence have to reporting mechanisms and protection services; and the formal and informal mechanisms in place or required for the effective implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the target states. The report on the Baseline Survey analyses data collected during the research process which was carried out by National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS). The research strategy also adopted participatory methods in addition to the survey method used.
At the launch event, the UN Women Programme Manager, Women, Peace and Security, Ms. Njeri Karuru, during her welcome address, discussed the objectives of conducting the baseline survey and some of the findings. ‘’We sought to understand at what level women are engaged in peace and security structures in target states of Northern Nigeria. The Baseline Survey Report is very revealing, and it shows that women are hardly engaged in peace-building. As we launch this publication today, we hope to provide relevant information for policy and strategic programmatic interventions on peace and security by stakeholders at all levels. We also look towards strengthening partnerships with those who are working on peace and security issues,’’ she said.
Prof Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, the research team leader from NIPSS, presented a summary of the Baseline Survey Report, highlighting some of the findings. The report revealed that women are conspicuously marginalized from the top hierarchy of decision-making structures, however, they are active in intra-family peace building and conflict management. She explained that ‘’cultural and religious factors limit women from being engaged in formal peace negotiations. At state level, women have low decision-making powers, particularly in elective posts which are as follows: Gombe (0%), Adamawa (6.3%) and Plateau (9.2%).’’
UN Women and partners at the unveiling of the Baseline Survey Report
The report also revealed that the response level of law enforcement agencies at local and state levels to gender-specific forms of violence is ineffective and unsatisfactory. On the mechanisms in place for the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in the target states, it was found out that the institutions of government and civil society organizations engaged in human rights protection, peace building and security lack the full complement of skills, resources and synergy to implement UNSCR 1325.
The launch of the Baseline Survey Report featured an interactive session where participants shared experiences and discussed the need for security agencies, especially the Police, to protect women suffering from Gender-Based Violence. Of noteworthy mention is the story of women vigilante groups in Adamawa State who work to provide security for their communities. There were also presentations from UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development on the Northern Nigeria Women, Peace and Security Programme. A video presentation on the experiences of stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Programme was also made by UN Women.
Several copies of the Baseline Survey Report were distributed to all participants at the event. This is expected to provide relevant information for policy and strategic programmatic interventions in peace building efforts, and to create awareness of the gaps in women’s engagement in peace and security in Northern Nigeria.
View the full report here: Baseline Survey Report: Promoting Women's Engagement in Peace and Security in Northern Nigeria