The advancement of women remains a critical focus in KAIPTC’s Strategic plan – Commandant notes as WPSI partners to commemorate IWD 2020
Accra, 9th March 2020 – The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) is committed to the continental and global agenda on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This is according to Commandant of the Centre, Major General Francis Ofori. The Commandant noted KAIPTC’s commitment to the WPS agenda, adding that it is the third pillar in its five-year Strategic Plan (2019-2023). He was speaking at the launch of the Second Ghana National Action Plan (GHANAP II) on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration held at KAIPTC. Major General Francis Ofori told the gathering that IWD is a focal point in the advocacy for women’s rights which offers an opportunity to mobilise support to promote the rights of women and girls.
The launch of the GHANAP II was under the theme “I am Generation Equality: Advancing Women and Girls Rights in Ghana.”
According to the Commandant, to sustain efforts and various success stories on women’s rights and participation, there is the need to secure the gains made, to address existing challenges and examine grey areas, especially women’s rights, protection and participation within emerging security situations.
He noted that “globally, the year 2020 is a milestone in advocating for women’s rights; it marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the 20th anniversary of the UNSCR 1325. At KAIPTC, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Women Peace and Security Institute (WPSI), which works to support the implementation on UNSCR 1325 across Africa.”
Commenting on the launch of GHANAP II, he noted that “it is an opportunity for us to be informed on what will be Ghana’s focus in implementing UNSCR 1325 going forward. I believe you will leave here more informed on the WPS agenda and how to contribute in your various organisations to promote the tenets of this agenda.”
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) spearheaded the event, in partnership with the WPSI at KAIPTC, the Governments of Canada and Germany, through the German Development Agency, the UNDP, the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Ghana Chapter of the Working Group on Women Youth Peace and Security (WGWYPS-GH)
Head of the WPSI at KAIPTC, Mrs. Joana Osei-Tutu in her address to the media, reaffirmed the commitment of WPSI to lead the conversation and drive to educate, empower and promote women’s participation in peace and security, and in other critical areas of development. WPSI is, among other things, hoping to spearhead efforts at reviving the Ghana Chapter of the Working Group on Women Peace and Security.
WPSI, since its establishment, has served as a knowledge centre for expanding technical capacity, training and policy research and analysis on women, peace and security in order to better inform the broader peace and security agenda in Africa. It also focuses on promoting women’s participation in peace negotiations and preventive diplomacy efforts in Africa.
Additionally, it collaborates with stakeholders to bridge the gender gap and to build the capacities of women to occupy leadership roles in security institutions, and to increase their participation in peacekeeping activities.
Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP, Silke Hollander in her remarks urged everyone to contribute towards the effective implementation of the GHANAP II; she also urged for deeper collaboration in providing opportunities for women to contribute towards sustainable peace in their communities, on the continent and the world at large. She added that women are not only victims of conflicts, but key actors in contributing to peacebuilding, negotiation and conflict resolution.
On her part, Head of Development Corporation at the German Embassy in Ghana, Mrs. Dorothee Dinkelaker bemoaned the practice of denying the rights of women and girls. She said it has a serious economic impact; on the other hand, empowering them has a transformative impact that is essential to fully functioning communities, economies and peace. The German Government, according to her, considers gender equality as a guiding principle that defines its work to expand equal opportunities for all individuals.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Gender Minister, Chief Director of MoGCSP, Dr Afisah Zakariah said the overall goal of the Ghana National Action Plan II on WPS, is aimed at building secured, peaceful and inclusive societies for all, especially women and girls in the country, that is anchored on the tenets of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. The Chief Director intimated that the launch of GHANAP II is very crucial due to the upcoming general elections, and the need to consolidate the relative peace in the country.
The Special Advisor and Chief of Staff, Office of the Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security at the African Union Commission, Dr Jean-Bosco Butera said “ as we begin the decade of action for the achievement of the SDG’s, let us remind ourselves that Gender Equality, the realisation of women’s rights, including in conflicts and the empowerment of all women are essential and cross-cutting issues which impact all the Sustainable Development Goals,” he called upon everyone to contribute towards the effective implementation of the GHANAP II. Dr Jean-Bosco Butera added. “The most important work lies ahead through the implementation of actions towards achieving the UNSCR 1325 objectives.”
As part of the launch, two panel discussions were held on the topics “I am Generation Equality: Sustaining the promotion of women’s rights in Ghana” and “The role of women in promoting peaceful elections in Ghana”.
Rev. Dr. Comfort Asare, Director for Gender at MoGCSP and Mrs Queeneth Tawo, National Coordinator of the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security delivered presentations on the GHANAP II and the activities of the Working Group respectively.
Also present at the event were Acting High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana, Ms. Sara Nicholls, Executive Director of WANEP, Dr Chukwuemeka Eze.
For further information, please contact the Corporate Affairs Unit of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) on +233302-718200 ext 1104/1203 or +233 550 303030. You can find the KAIPTC on Facebook and twitter as: @Kaiptcgh. You can further find out more about the KAIPTC on our website: www.kaiptc.org.
About the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre:
The Ghana Ministry of Defence (MoD) established the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in 1998 and commissioned it in 2004. The purpose was to build upon and share Ghana’s five decades of internationally acclaimed experience and competence in peace operations with other states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region and the rest of Africa. This was in recognition of the need for training military, police and civilian men and women to meet the changing demands of multidimensional peace operations. The Centre is one of the three (3) Peacekeeping Training Centres of Excellence mandated by the ECOWAS to offer training in peacekeeping and peace support operations (PSO) in Africa.
The Centre delivers training courses in three thematic areas; Peace Support Operations, Conflict Management and Peace and Security Studies and also runs Masters and PhD programmes in same. The KAIPTC has a world-class research department that undertakes research in the thematic areas in Peace and Security. Located in Accra, Ghana, the KAIPTC is an internationally recognized institution and has to date trained and tutored over 21, 496 participants and students since its inception.
KAIPTC is a gender-sensitive organization and committed to gender equality. Following the launch of its gender policy in 2014, the Centre has mainstreamed gender into its policies and programmes, and integrates same in its focal areas, namely training, research and postgraduate education. The Centre has developed a Sexual Harassment policy and fully oriented employees on same. It has also provided a Nursing and Childcare Centre and instituted a paternity leave policy, all with the aim to create a conducive work environment at KAIPTC.