Interfaith specialist and Peace Ambassador, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani, emphasizes the pivotal role of women in fostering peace and resolving conflicts within communities.
In a recent interview in Kaduna, Hajiya Ramatu stressed the importance of women’s active participation in the peacebuilding process.
She called for both governmental and non-governmental entities involved in peace initiatives to allocate consistent funding to women-led organizations addressing peace-related issues.
Highlighting women’s equal involvement as essential for establishing sustainable peace, she urged for their inclusion in all peace agreements and community dialogues.
Hajiya Ramatu emphasized that women bring unique perspectives to conflict prevention, particularly at grassroots levels.
Quoting, “While men may instigate wars, it’s women who nurture peace. Hence, their indispensable role in peace-making, conflict resolution, and reconstruction efforts for a better nation,” she asserted.
As the national president of the Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children in Nigeria, Hajiya Ramatu underscored the inseparable link between peace, security, and development. She condemned the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women and children, particularly instances of sexual violence, abductions, and trafficking.
Echoing the imperative to amplify women’s voices, she commended efforts aimed at addressing violence, empowering women, and fostering a culture of peace while advocating for collective responsibility in resolving conflicts and breaking cycles of violence.
Furthermore, she urged measures granting local women priority in recruitment during emergencies and reconstruction phases.
Hajiya Ramatu emphasized the necessity to safeguard women’s socioeconomic rights, provide comprehensive support for their physical and mental well-being post-conflict, and ensure access to justice for victims of conflict-related abuses.
She appealed for gender-sensitive budgeting in humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts to directly benefit women. Additionally, she advocated for granting temporary residence permits to women survivors of sexual violence in conflict-affected regions.
In conclusion, Hajiya Ramatu called for concerted efforts to empower women in peacebuilding endeavors, emphasizing that their inclusion is not only a matter of justice but also a pathway to sustainable peace and development.
