adminThe Herald, March 8 2001
IT is increasingly being realised that women possess particular skills and experiences that enable them to contribute to all stages of a peace process.
In times of conflict, it is often women who take over the running of homes, farms and villages.
Women understand the root causes of tension and know which power within the communities and countries are most likely to support peace initiatives.
For the first time in the history of the United Nations, the Security Council devoted an entire session to a debate on women’s experiences in conflict and post conflict situations and their contributions to peace.
The adoption of the Security Council resolution 1325, marked another milestone in the process of elevating women’s role in peace and security to a high political agenda.
Secretary-General to the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan said much progress had been achieved in the advancement of women, from better legislation to greater participation from the Cairo conference on population and development to the Beijing Platform for Action.
Women are neither the initiators nor the prosecutors of conflict, and yet they have been specifically targeted, often a way to humiliate the adversary and break the morale and resistance of whole societies.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
In 2001 the theme for International Women’s Day was, “Women, peace and security: Women managing Conflict”. The focus was on the international community’s commitment to addressing the devastating impact of armed conflict on women, their critical role in peace-keeping and peace-building and the need to ensure full and equitable participation of women in the process.
Security Council resolution 1325 urged an enhanced role for women in preventing conflict, promoting peace and assisting in post conflict reconstruction and the incorporation of a gender perspective into the United Nations operations.
Women should also take this opportunity to congratulate Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was sworn in last Friday, following the untimely death of President John Magufuli on March 17. President Suluhu becomes Tanzania and East Africa’s first female President.
Conflict resolution and peacekeeping begins at the family level right up to the global level. However, women continue to be victims of conflicts as they are sidelined in conflict resolution.
As Women’s Month draws to a close, it’s incumbent upon women to reflect on how far they are in achieving Maslow’s apex of hierarchy of needs — self-actualisation.
Online Reporter