Kogi state government has promised to ensure complete eradication of any form of violence against women and children through the implementation of UN action plan for peace and security of women and children.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade-Arike, made the pledge during the official launching of Kogi State Action Plan for Peace and Security on women and children, organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Actionaid and Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development in Lokoja, yesterday.
The SSG, who also represented the wife of the state governor, Mrs Rashidat Bello, said the domestication of United Nations Security Council 1325 on peace and security of women and children in Kogi state has confirmed the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in taking the affairs of women and children as top most in his agenda for the state.
According to her, the full implementation of the action plan documents in the state will not only guarantee peace but also usher in development.
Ayoade-Arike noted that the Kogi state women advancement foundation which is a pet programme of the First Lady has shown interest in ensuring and assuring the place of women in the society, adding that the action plan will assist women during conflicts on possible ways to resolve crisis.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Bolanle Amupitan, said the launch was a new concept which has brought the state to the critical stage of implementation.
“In this country, we rank grade “A” in policy formulation but it is sad to note that we rank a dismal grade “E” in implementation. We produce ‘excellent’ paper work which we fail to properly implement,” she said.
The commissioner noted that the document, if properly implemented, would be a mechanism to fight gender violence, human trafficking and all forms of gender imbalance.
Amupitan assured that the ministry on its part would ensure that relevant stakeholders, including MDAs got involved in facilitating the UN Resolution 1325 and affirmed the state government’s commitment and support to achieve the goals.
