By Ruby Amable for WOMEC

“Without peace, development is impossible and without women, neither peace nor development can take place” WPP

The Africa Desk of the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) has been launched in Accra, Ghana, to help equip African women peacemakers and activists to promote gender sensitive active non-violence to transform societies for peace. WPP is an affiliate of the International Fellowship for Reconciliation (IFOR), a peace movement based in the Netherlands and committed to active non-violence to transform unjust political, social and economic injustices.

The WPP Africa Desk, which is hosted by the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) started operations in 2007 and has been promoting gender sensitive non-violence in the Greater Horn and Central regions of Africa considered to be in dire need because of the conflicts in those countries. Thirty two women Peace activists from Sudan, Eritrea, Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon and Burundi have also been trained in skills of gender sensitive non-violence.

These women have established networks in their various countries and are replicating the skills gained. Mrs. Euphemia Akos Dzathor is the Africa regional Desk officer of the WPP. She noted the various international   instruments and declarations on human as well   aswomen’s rights which she said were well intentioned however, African women continue to daily battle with various forms of gender based violence. Millions of African women continue to live their lives in refugee camps where they have to endure insecurity and sexual exploitation, while others have their rights violated in marriages. 

Mrs. Dzathor said WPP Africa is determined to showcase Africa as a symbol of hope for peaceful co-existence through actively engaging women peacemakers in gender sensitive training programs, building alliances and networks with organizations with similar ideals, supporting women civil society organizations to promote active non violence at the grassroots as well as document and disseminate information on the work of African women peace builders. 

Ghana’s Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama in her inaugural address said women have been coerced into playing negative roles in conflict situations when the decision to go to war is taken by men. While women and children are those who bear the harsh consequences of these conflicts, women are excluded from all peace negotiations and agreements and are made to work towards rebuilding society after the conflict. 

Hajia Alima was hopeful that WPP’s activities in Africa will help to open the space for women to be included  in peace building. She urged WPP to work and reach out to all parts of Africa and to send the message to all that peace is for all times and not only during conflict situations. Touching on the situation in the Bawku area of the Upper East Region of Ghana, the Minister said the Bawku conflict would have been avoided if a high number of elite women were involved in the negotiations. 

Dorothy Attema and Isabelle Gueskens, both from the WPP International Secretariat shared the view that Africa has the women with the requisite skills but have to stand up to make peace work on the continent. They also called for the involvement of the youth in all peace building efforts since their role is critical to all peace processes. WPP believes that without the participation of women there is no sustainable peace, and without peace, there is no development. It is convinced that supporting African women to arise and be involved in peace building initiatives and at the negotiation tables as critical actors will in the long term reduce considerably the incidence of violent conflicts on the continent.