The UN Office on Prevention of Genocide has appointed the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, to head a Global Committee on Prevention of Genocide and Atrocity from the perspective of women.
Ms Alice Nderitu, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Prevention of Genocide, made this known in Abuja on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the minister.
Nderitu said the committee is expected to develop a framework of analysis on atrocities and genocide that reflect the perspective of women in conflict prevention, as the existing one does not reflect issues of women.
She said, “there are situations where there is clear intent to destroy whole ethnic, racial and religious communities.
“The question we are asking is, what should be the solution against that intent? What should we do if we see that violence that is happening that bears that kind of character?
“That is why I have come to seek the minister’s leadership because, in July, we are convening very eminent women from around the world who work in peace building; women who have been signatories to peace agreements, whose character can be seen in their countries constitutions, decisions that have been made in ending the war.
“In Italy, we will sit with these women and we will draw up a framework of analysis for the prevention of such atrocities.”
She added that the committee was expected to articulate the perspectives of women to peacebuilding and submit to the Office of the UN Secretary-General, to be presented before the General Assembly. (DailyTrust)