Make Every Woman Count
5.3. Challenges and Gaps The first gap observed concerning women, peace and security in the region is the absence of a current NAP for the Implementation of UNSCR 1325 in many of the West African countries. While many launched a NAP at the beginning of the Decade, these plans have now expired. The sources consulted did not reveal any updates or progress on implementing new NAPs.1860 Adoption of a NAP is sometimes seen as a necessity in countries where there is conflict and violence, and therefore not a priority in more peaceful societies. A second gap observed concerns weak provisions on women and civil society in the NAPs. For example, Guinea’s NAP did not provide details about the role of civil society in the implementation of the plan,1861 and Côte d’Ivoire’s NAP failed to discuss women in security forces.1862 Details on how women should be included in maintaining peace and preventing conflict are often limited or non-existent. A third gap concerns women’s participation in institutions engaged in matters concerning women, peace and security. From the data available, it is clear that overall West African women remain under-represented in general, and in particular in high ranking and senior roles. Women are more likely to occupy administrative roles rather than leadership roles. It is estimated that 1% of women occupy leadership positions in the security sector in Nigeria, and women are mostly represented in the fields of care, logistics and administration.1863 Moreover, from the data available, few women are included in peace processes. During the 2015 peace process in Mali, there was resistance as some mediators could not be convinced of the importance of women’s participation; as a result, only men were represented.1864 The first challenge observed concerns the increase in unrest. In some countries in West Africa, conflict and escalating violence represent a problem for the implementation of legislative, policy and institutional reform. Social and political unrest often leads to mass displacement of populations and humanitarian crisis, such as in Mali.1865 North-eastern Nigeria has also seen a rise in violence, owing to the growing activities of the Islamist group Boko Haram.1866 A second challenge observed concerns the lack of data regarding women’s involvement in the peace and security sector. Although some countries, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, regularly report on women involved in the police and military, in other countries consistently gathered data is lacking. Moreover, from what data is available, it is clear that women remain under-represented in this domain. In Togo in 2010, the Defence and Security Committee, responsible for the general organisation of defence and national security, as well as recruitment, was composed of nine members, all male. The Constitutional Laws and Legislation Committee of General Administration, responsible for matters relating to the Constitution and fundamental laws and justice, was composed of 11 members, including one woman (9.1%).1867 Finally, review of the different acts establishing national commissions or councils on conflict prevention and resolution and on maintaining peace shows that, despite the objectives set up in NAPs, a gender approach is often missing. The use of the expression that “gender must be regarded” when appointing members does not guarantee equal participation of women and men. Moreover, the special needs of women, notably regarding VAW and sexual violence, are frequently not addressed. Ghana’s National Peace Council’s functions focus on conflict prevention, management and resolution and do not cover support to victims and accountability, notably regarding VAW. In Burkina Faso, the Sub-Commission for Truth, Justice and Reconciliation of the National Reconciliation and Reform Commission has as one of its mission’s documentation of any case of blood or economic crime; gender-based crimes are not included. In meeting its objectives, Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission responds to the needs of the victims, including victims of SGBV, and details the kind of support provided, such as medical, psychosocial and livelihood support.
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