Involve women in peace building - Oye Lithur

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has called on women to be involved in peacekeeping, governance and civil society activities.

She said empowerment of women in peacekeeping would enable them to participate in the fight for the rights of marginalised groups.

Nana Oye Lithur made the call at the opening of a two-day training on United Nations Security Council Regulation (UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security in Sunyani.

The workshop is being attended by 50 participants from the Peace Council, Department of Gender, Regional Coordinating Councils and Civil Society Organisations working in the area of peace building and conflict management.

It was to equip the participants with the knowledge to ensure effective implementation of Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP) 1325, a step towards mainstreaming gender and bringing more women into peace and security processes.

Nana Oye Lithur said the Ministry was working keenly on the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill to increase the number of women in politics to 40 per cent as well as equitable representation of chiefs and queen mothers in the Regional House of Chiefs.

She said its passage would provide women the platform to discuss issues relating to conflicts and violence against women and address gender equality, equity and empowerment for national development.

Nana Oye Lithur said efforts to avoid conflict could succeed when society had equal stake in safeguarding peace.

Mr Samuel Justice Adjei, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, said women played important role in national development and, therefore, should be involved in the building and promotion of peace.

He said conflict occurred due to unfair violation and distribution of human rights and women were vulnerable in several ethnic conflicts which could be avoided.