CAGEAD launches UNSCR1325 handbook, trains and certify grassroot peace ambassadors

By Martial Gnoukapasir

certified community peace ambassadors

Understanding the importance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 document, which calls for the inclusion of women in conflict prevention, resolution and in the peace building process, the Centre for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development - CAGEAD, has produced and launch a handbook aimed at facilitating the understanding and implementation of the UNSCR1325 tools at grassroot levels.

The launching of the manual, Thursday April 22nd at the Bamenda III council premises, coincided with the award of certificates to some community peace promoters within the Bamenda I and III municipalities, trained by the centre to serve as ambassadors of the peace building process via awareness raising in their respective communities.

simplified UNSCR1325 manual

The launch of the 39 page manual, training and certification is part of a project aim at  _Strengthening Grassroot Women's Participation in Peace and Security Through Community Awareness Raising_ as explained by the project lead Mrs Asumpta.

The simplification of UNSCR1325 according to  CAGEAD's founder and CEO, Waah Clotilda Andiensa was motivated by the fact "more was being said than done, reason why we took upon ourselves to localise resolution 1325 by bringing it closer to the people at the grassroot. We have use simple languages in the simplified manual in such a way that women and men in the grassroot can understand what participation, protection and prevention means to them and what it also means to participate in the process of recovery and rebuilding of their communities.."

CAGEAD's founder and CEO Waah Clotilda facing the press

 North West regional delegate of women's empowerment and the family Wirba Asan, speaking at the launching, lauded the initiative and said the process of peace building starts from the home. 

He said there were many issues standing in the way of peace that can be nib from the butt and enjoined the peace ambassadors to make good use of the handbook to empower and advocate for the rights of women  in their respective communities.

NW Minproff delegate Wirba Asan officially launching the handbook

 For the Bamenda III council mayor who happens to be a  beneficiary and a major stake holder of the project, his council has been exemplary when it comes to raising the voices of women in peace building efforts.

"we have more than 2 female councillors with 30 female workers at the council serving this municipality, and they've been very active in our peace building and development efforts. This project is a lofty and laudable one and the council will do all to monitor and measure the implementation of the project"

partial view of community peace crusaders at launching

Amongst other speakers at the launch was the coordinator of the justice and peace commission of the Archdiocese of Bamenda madam Laura naddin tufoin who threw more light on the 4 pillars of UNSCR1325 being participation, prevention, protection, relief and recovery.

Other civil society actors who took part at the launch agreed that women and children who are the most vulnerable and hardest hit by conflicts, know little or nothing about the peace instruments and are often left out in the peace building process.

justice and peace coordinator Laura naddin tufoin lectures on 4 pillars of UNSCR1325

Mr Toh Sylvester is one of the trained community peace ambassadors. To him the manual after their training, will help them operate in their respective communities with self confidence.

 

"As a grassroot mobilizer we've been train on how to use this manual and today it's being handed to us so we can go back into our communities and operate in self esteem and confidence. We're going to engage the women and men to work in synergy so we can bring peace right to the micro level of our homes"

Community peace ambassador Toh Sylvester talking to the press

The united nations security council acknowledges that conflicts affect women differently rom the way it affects men and recognizes the critical role that women play in conflict prevention and resolution.

It also puts gender equality and women's rights at the core of peacemaking, peace keeping and peace building, protecting women from violence including sexual violence in conflict and post conflict situations.

The event in pictures below