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The African First Ladies Peace Mission wishes its esteemed members and women all over the world Happy International Womenâs Day. We honour those who are paving the way for women empowerment and representation. Together we must continue to work towards investing in women rights issues and finding lasting solution to ending poverty.
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The Government of Canada has pledged cooperation and support to the African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM, in pursuit of the Missionâs peacebuilding efforts on the African continent. This was the outcome of Friday’s virtual meeting between the Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on AFLPM, Dr. Mairo Al-Makura, on the Mission’s side, and the Canadian Minister of International Development, Karina Gould, and the Canadian Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Jacqueline O’Neill. Speaking during the meeting, Gould and OâNeill commended the valuable efforts of the AFLPM, which they acknowledged, had been working relentlessly on peacebuilding initiatives within Africa. The Canadian officials, therefore, expressed the interest of the Government of Canada in deepening its cooperation with the AFLPM in promoting women, peace, and security in Africa.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Al Makura, highlighted women’s role in peacebuilding, the systemic barriers often faced by women in conflict settings and how Canada could further support the goals of the AFLPM on the continent. âThrough the years, the AFLPM has leveraged its privilege and access to power to foster diplomatic and political relationship towards achieving peace, with a particular focus on the needs of the women and children of Africa. âWith the 47 member-states making up the mission well utilised as vehicles to promote peacebuilding and conflict resolution through feminist lens, we have the unique ability to quickly mobilise and advocate for change. âAlso, the Peace Mission is embarking on Advocacy for women on the need to take COVID-19 vaccines alongside their familiesâ Dr. Mairo Al-Makura stated. She emphasised the need for Canada and AFLPM to establish ways to deepen relationship and mobilise resources for the AFLPM secretariat to advance the women, peace and security agenda, gender equality, and the broader Sustainable Development Goals objectives on the African continent. Â
The Peace Mission and the Government of Canada also discussed several regional peace, security and humanitarian issues and the need to resolve conflicts through political dialogue and increased women’s participation in conflict-prevention efforts. Meanwhile, the African First Ladies Peace Mission was an outcome of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on women in Beijing, China, where the initiative was taken to establish the African First Ladies Forum by African wives of African Heads of State/Presidents who came together as ambassadors of peace during the conference.
Dr Mairo Al-Makura
Special Assistant to the President on African First Ladies Peace mission
Today on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the many achievements of women and girls in Africa and across the globe. We are inspired by the effective leadership that women have demonstrated during the current pandemic. Women have brilliantly stepped-up to this challenging period with strength and courage while adjusting to rapidly unfolding circumstances. In doing so, they have reminded the world of the importance of women’s presence in leadership positions.
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Although we have seen tremendous progress on women’s rights and leadership over the last few years, the pandemic is threatening to reverse the gains that have been made. The pandemic has disproportionally impacted women in many areas, particularly gender-based violence. While the world implemented lockdown measures introduced to curb the pandemic, there has been a spike in reported domestic violence and conflict-related violence against women and girls. To ensure that the Covid-19 response and recovery acknowledges their realities, women need to have a seat at the decision-making table.
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The African First Ladies Peace Mission celebrates African women who continuously play a crucial role in furthering peace on the continent. We must not lose sight that gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental to the continent’s progress on peace, security and human rights. We recommit ourselves to advocate for the right to peace and protection for all women and girls across Africa.
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The development of Africa cannot be achieved without women’s efforts and contributions. On this International Women’s Day, let’s empower and encourage African women and girls to ensure their participation in all decision-making levels.
This seminar is being organised by the African First Ladies Peace Mission, (AFLPM) in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Nigeria and CTP International, a UK–Nigeria based executive learning and development consultancy.The AFLPM has as its mandate the promotion of peace and development in Africa through supporting victims of conflict and using appropriate mechanisms and institutions to protect women and children in conflict areas. This seminar will contribute to the personal and professional development of participants, as leaders, whilst creating space for knowledge sharing and peer–to–peer networking. The programme is endorsed by the Institute of Leadership Development as an executive development programme. The threat to peace and security in communities is an existential one in contemporary Nigeria. The impact of Covid19 is more pronounced in communities where poverty is most widespread and awareness of safe health practices is lowest. But even that sad situation is further complicated by the collateral pandemic of gender–based violence which has exploded on the scene since theCovid–19–induced lockdown. Globally, the COVID19 pandemic and its social and economic impacts have created a global crisis unparalleled in history. Young people and women are particularly vulnerable to the disruptions the pandemic has caused. Many young people are now at risk of being left behind in education, economic opportunities, and health and wellbeing during a crucial stage of their life development. Young people are more likely to be impacted by economic disruptions, conflict and community strife. It therefore falls upon those in a position (such as the First Ladies) whose mandate is to bring hope and succour to those segments of the populace, and to demonstrate the requisite leadership. The youth are also least likely to put up and shut up, for too long, as the peaceful global protest against police brutality and other grievances have demonstrated. This event offers an important platform for further dialogue and engagement with the youth, thereby complementing the efforts of government in reaching and reconnecting with this critical demographic.
The choice of theme is informed by the highly important role First Ladies all over the world play in helping to hold the pieces of society together in their various domains. As undisputed leaders in all ramifications, First Ladies are a key bridge between ordinary people, trusted by the people to convey their feelings, hopes and aspirations to the very heart of their spouses, the leaders in authority, in order to influence better outcomes for the people. Theme therefore recognises this important role and aims to explore the various ways in which these enormous tasks are undertaken by First Ladies, hence: âTHE FIRST LADY AS LEADER & MOBILISER OF WOMEN & YOUTH FOR PEACE BUILDING,COMMUNITY CONFLICT RESOLUTION& RESILIENCE IN THE POST–COVID–19 ERAâ
The event aims to connect Nigeriaâs First Ladies as leaders and mobilisers of women and youth in their various states with subject matter experts and practitioners, to rub minds and share perspectives on the subject, with a view to deepening their knowledge and enhancing their executive capacity.
Participants will
First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has acknowledged that children often find it difficult to access legal services, especially those who live in remote rural communities. She therefore advocated for child-friendly service to promote childrenâs legal rights and interests, especially through strengthening of Legal Aid services in Nigeria.
Mrs. Buhari, who was represented by Dr. Mairo Tanko Almakura, Special Assistant to the President on African First Ladies Peace Mission, was speaking at an event to mark the 2020 Day of the African Child, which held at the African First Ladies Peace Mission Secretariat, Abuja on 16th June, 2020.
Mrs. Buhari observed that the theme of the event, which is âaccess to a child-friendly justice system in Africaâ, reflects the helplessness of children to the various forms of abuse that they are subjected to. She charged the appropriate authorities in African countries to provide child-friendly services such as free 24 hours helplines, child complaint centers, child offendersâ courts and free legal advice for juveniles. She further called for states in Nigeria that are yet to promulgate the Child Rights Act (Laws) to do so without any further delay. This has become imperative especially with the recent happenings in our country where even children are not spared by predators and pedophiles.
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She implored children and their Parents/Guardians not to be silent in the face of abuse but speak out against any inappropriate behavior against them.
Speaking earlier, National Coordinator, African First Ladies Peace Mission Secretariat, Mrs. Beatrice Bassey, said the Day of the African Child provides occasion for the Mission and other stakeholders to renew their ongoing commitments towards improving the plight of the African child particularly with the current COVID-19 Pandemic. She said there is no doubt that African children face different types of abuse including rape, trafficking and child labour.
She stated that the day raises awareness of the continuing need for improvement of the education provided to African children.
The Day of the African Child was initiated by the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) now African Union (AU) to commemorate 1976 uprising in Soweto South Africa, where school children were brutally repressed by the police for protesting against apartheid inspired education policy. It is celebrated on June 16th every year since 1991.
Highlight of the event was an interactive session with the children on the challenges they face in education and how they want the system improved.
Aliyu Abdullahi
Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
(Office of the First Lady)
June 16, 2020
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