The two-day training session was organized by WANEP, within the framework of the ActionAid  supported alliance for the promotion of human security in promoting the preventive and proactive interventions in The Gambia. This document seeks to address the gaps in women, peace and security related matters, being the first formal and legal document from the Security Council, that requires parties in conflict to respect women’s rights and to support their participation and leadership in conflict prevention, peace building, and in rebuilding war-torn societies.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms Pamela Cole, national coordinator of WANEP-Gambia, said the adoption of the Security Council’s Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, was seen as a watershed in the evolution of international women’s rights in the areas of peace and security. According to her, this resolution calls for an increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in conflict prevention, management and resolution; attention to the specific protection needs of women in conflict, including refugees; increased support for women peace builders, no impunity for war crimes against women, including gender-based violence; gender perspective in UN peacekeeping operations and post-conflict processes; and gender perspective in UN Reporting and Security Council Missions. 

Madam Cole reminded participants that the resolution urges parties in armed conflict to respect international law on the rights and protection of women and girls and take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, pay attention to the needs of women in conflict, peace and security, adopt measures to support local women’s peace initiatives and involve women in all stages of peace processes.

According to her, this resolution 1325 informs and gives credence to the work of civil society groups working in the area of women, peace and security. “A year after its adoption, WANEP launched its ‘women in peace building programme,’ one of the thematic programmes being implemented across the 12 WANEP networks in the sub-region, aims at ensuring that formal and informal peace processes are engendered through the inclusion of women,” she stated. “Our mission here for the next two days is one that goes beyond mere rhetoric to action. Next year, we will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the resolution. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA), all international women’s rights tools supporting and complementing resolution 1325 call for action, not just action but concrete action on women, peace and security,” Ms Cole stated.

Janianba Nyang-Njie, who deputized for the ActionAid country director, Dr Kujejatou Manneh at the ceremony, spoke at length on the focus and objective of the resolution and the importance of the two-day session. According to her, the forum focuses more on how to resolve external conflict that could occur between two parties and how to ensure that sustainable peace prevails at family, community, national and sub-regional level. “It will also ensure that policies and practices of governments, organizations and agencies that are undertaking conflict resolution and peace building do respond to the needs of the poor especially women and girls,” she said.  Dr Sereh Jagne also spoke at the occasion and the ceremony was chaired by Ebrima Ceesay, head of Gender Development Unit at the Management Development Institute (MDI).