Mercy Corps inaugurates women peace council in Plateau


Nigerian women have been called upon to actively participate in mitigating the occurrences of violence in their communities, for a better society and Nigeria at large.

The call was made by the deputy chief of party Mercy Corps, Sani Suleiman, at the formal inauguration of Women Peace building Council in Plateau state.

He said women as wives to their husbands, and mothers to their children have greater roles to play in mitigating the occurrence of violence in their communities.

Mercy Corps, in a press release said the Community Initiatives to Promote Peace (CIPP) has 60 diverse local women leaders in Plateau, inaugurated into a community level peace building council.

“The inauguration of the women into the peace council serves to create and expand platforms for grassroots women to meaningfully engage with members of their community including religious leaders, government, and other relevant stakeholders to address triggers of violence, gender inequities and discriminations.

The council will support women to play substantive role in decision-making and peace building processes at the community level, LGA and state level,” the release said.

It further stressed that the inauguration, in partnership with the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has the 60 women selected from Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos and Riyom local government areas, respectively.

It said the women council will work together to identify conflict prevention needs, map out strategies to address the Issues, and maximise opportunities for amplifying the voices of women and other marginalised groups at local, state, and national levels.

According to the release, Mr. David Gatare; Chief of Party CIPP at Mercy Corps Nigeria, 300 women have so far been inaugurated into Women Peace Councils across five out of six key implementing states of Benue, Kaduna, Kogi, Kano and Katsina states.

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