NCCE with funding from the UNFPA has concluded a comprehensive “Civic Dialogue with Local and Traditional Authorities on Women and Youths Participation in Decision Making on Peace Building” with a meeting in Basse town. 

The dialogue was implemented across five regions — WCR, LRR, NBR, CRR and URR – and avail traditional rulers as custodians of our traditional norms and values the chance to discuss with youth and women representatives on the importance of inclusive decision making and peacebuilding. And was aimed at addressing prevailing traditional perception that prevent women and young people participation in all aspects of peacebuilding.

Series of studies have corroborated that including and partnering with women and young people helps foster a more sustainable peace. However, despite continued policy declarations and documents, and grassroots efforts to encourage inclusive representation of youth and women in decision making, there remain structural barriers that thwart women and youth from contributing to security and peacebuilding on national, regional, and local levels.

When violent conflict erupts, women and young people are often among the most impacted. Yet their voices are often among the most side-lined in efforts to prevent or resolve conflict. Women and youth are key to achieving sustainable peace and development solutions. Therefore, for sustainable peacebuilding, or conflict and crisis response, as country on a transition it is absolutely critical to invest more in the meaningful inclusion of youth and women at all stages from participation to prevention, protection to resolution and recovery.

A total of 400 youth and women representatives and a dozens of Chiefs and Alkalolu benefited from the dialogue.