TALLEN APPLAUDS CDS, GENERAL LUCKY IRABOR FOR LAUNCHING ARMED FORCES GENDER POLICY.
Oru Leonard
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs in Nigeria, Dame Pauline Tallen has commended the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, for taking the bold step to Launch the Armed Forces Gender Policy.
Tallen made the commendation in her remarks at Abuja during the meeting of Security Sector reference group on on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Nigeria. She said the group was inaugurated in June 2020 to provide the framework amongst others to ensure greater collaboration and interaction between gender-specific structures of security sector actors in the country.
The Minister noted that General Irabor has displayed unalloyed support for mainstreaming gender in the Nigeria Armed Forces. “This is worthy of commendation and he stands out as our true He-for-She champion. And we will soon reach out to him to decorate him. We are hoping that one day a woman will occupy this position”, she expressed.
Dame Tallen also saluted the commitment of stakeholders in ensuring the successful hosting of the First Annual Security Sector Forum on Women in the Security Sector in Nigeria organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Defence Headquarters with support from UN Women.
“As we work towards developing the third National Action Plan (NAP-3), the experiences and lessons learnt in the implementation of NAP-1 and NAP-2 would serve as reference point. We expect that NAP-3 will identify and capture current Women, Peace and Security priorities and key interventions needs in Nigeria, including the COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging issues, and specifics for each of the six geo-political zones of the Country.
“We will work in partnership with and support from partners, including the services of Women, Peace and Security expert consultants. We are already working with UN Women to support us technically for quality delivery and attainment of the set goal and objectives. Other organizations have also indicated interest to work with us in carrying out this activity.
“We will also engage the three arms of Government (Executive, Judiciary and Legislature) at the National and State levels in the process, including identification of synergy between their respective mandates and the provisions of UNSCR 1325. The Ministry will also work closely other key stakeholders; including the Security Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Women Groups/Networks and the National Advisory body for the implementation of NAP in Nigeria. This approach will enhance collective ownership by National institutions for better implementation of NAP-3”, she stated.
She discloy that domestication of the UNSCR 1325 in the six geo-political zones of the country as only 14 States have developed their State Action Plans. which include: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Plateau, Rivers, Nasarawa and Yobe. 10 out of these States have gone further to develop their Local Action Plans.
