The Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) has said Women and young people are pleading for an inclusive resolution to the current crises in West Africa and the Sahel.
The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in cooperation with UN Women, organized the annual meeting of the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel, held in Accra from 18 to 22 September 2023, under the theme “Unconstitutional seizure of power and transition in the Sahel region”.
The five days meeting being held at Best Western Hotel in Accra-Ghana had nearly 121 women and young people (54 in person and 67 online) from 17 countries in West Africa and the Sahel took part in the deliberations.
It has participates from members of Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana (UNRC), Mr. Charles Abani, the Special Advisor to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh on the Accra Initiative.
Other key stakeholders in attendance include Ms Francisca Atuluk, Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council.
The aim of this meeting is to strengthen the understanding and coordination of action in the implementation and follow-up of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 (2000), 2250 (2015), and subsequent ones on women, youth, peace, and security.
The communique issued after the meeting touched on the Niger crisis among other steps leaders in the West Africa and Sahel should take with the keen involvement of women.
“The officials recalled that UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) was the first to highlight the valuable role and essential contribution of women to peace and sustainable stability, recognizing that “women matter for peace”. “Similarly, resolution 2250 (2015) on youth, peace and security recognizes the positive contribution of young people to peace and sustainable development in their communities, humanitarian assistance and post-conflict reconstruction.” They also discussed the current security situation in the Sahel.”
“Two days of consultations with the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel demonstrate that the Group remains deeply concerned about the unconstitutional seizures of power and the absence of women and young people from peace efforts in West Africa and the Sahel. Between 18 and 19 September 2023, at least 46 recommendations were made by the “Working Group to Governments, ECOWAS, civil society and the United Nations and partners, on concrete actions they should consider ensuring that women and youth leaders and mediators contribute to political dialogues, mediation, and other peace efforts in the region.
“Of great concern to the Working Group is the situation in Niger, particularly the adverse socio-economic and political effects of the transition. The ECOWAS economic sanctions on Niger, several panelists, and representatives from Niger report, are worsening the lives of Nigerien women, children, and youth. Beyond Niger, reports were also received of spill-over effects of the sanctions on neighboring countries. Thus, whilst the Working Group’s recommendations span across the short, medium, and long term, it calls on ECOWAS and all Heads of States in West Africa and the Sahel to support an immediate reversal of economic sanctions on Niger, and the reinstitution of political dialogue and mediation efforts, with women and young people centrally placed in this process.
“To better articulate its stance and aspirations on the matter, the Working Group shall adopt a Position Statement on unconstitutional seizures of power and the absence of women and young people from peace efforts in West Africa and the Sahel, at the end of the Annual Meeting. Furthermore, the Working Group is hereby seized to establish as soon as possible, The West Africa and Sahel Women and Youth “Rapid Response Team.” The main task of the Rapid Response Team will be to initiate rapid interventions that enable both appropriate and proportionate decisions and if deemed necessary, sanctions against a population, bearing in mind, any such consequences for women, youth and children.
“Combined, it is the hope of the Working Group that these new developments will alleviate the lack of transparency and opportunities for the participation of women and young people in political dialogue, mediation and decision-making in peace talks and other peace efforts in the region.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
