UNGA77: Aisha Buhari advocates inclusion of peace education in African schools

1 first lady of NigeriaAisha Muhammadu Buhari advocated for the mandatory inclusion of peace education in the basic curricula of schools in Africa to promote the culture of peace on the continent.

2 Buhari made the call during an event in New York on “The Role of Young Women and Girls in Promoting Peace and Security: Promoting a Culture of Peace in Fragile Contexts”.

3 News Agency of Nigeria correspondent reports that the high level event was hosted by the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) on the sidelines of the current 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

4 The first lady, the president of AFLPMwho spoke virtually, said there was a need to include peace education in school curricula due to the particularity of conflicts in Africa.

5 “I advocated for the mandatory inclusion of ‘peace education’ as a core subject in the basic education curriculum of schools in Africa at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of African Union in Malabo, Equatorial Guineain May 2022.
“I am happy to report that the initiative has been well received,” she said.

6 The first lady said that as key partners and implementers of Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on the agenda, she made a similar appeal to the The United Nations Educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO)
She said that the call for UNESCO, in consultation with other entities and partners, was to consider developing a universal curriculum on gender, peace and security education for all schools, as a way to make resolution 1325 a reality.
She said the event coincides with the 22nd anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on WPS, and subsequent nine other resolutions to advance the WPS framework.

seven She said it was also important to note that these historic resolutions on the preeminent position of women and girls in peacebuilding, peacemaking and peacekeeping processes were passed in this great city of New York.
“We meet at a time of heightened tension and conflict in all parts of the world.

8 “Therefore, it is time for women and their organizations to step up their contributions to the cause of peace and justice, and for the international community to place greater value on the particular voices of women in the peace process.

9 ”
According to her, as a guardian and partner in the struggle for peace in Africa, the challenge is even greater for our 12-year-old institution to stand up and insist that women’s priorities are at the heart of the peace and security policy at all levels.

ten “It is clear that violent conflict is the greatest toll on women and girls, despite our making up more than half of the world’s population.

11 “In conflict situations, we are predisposed to the twin dangers of horror and gender injustice in various forms.

12 “Already, there is a large gap in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGss), due to the limited access to health care, social services, economic opportunities and political participation of women and girls in Africa.

13 “In a continent plagued by widespread unrest and state fragility, our countries are more than ever confronted with alarming rates of maternal and child mortality.

14 “In addition to death, injury and displacement, conflict destroys infrastructure, undermines social ties and reduces the ability of states to deliver the development agenda promised to the African electorate.

15 “Our vital resources are increasingly being diverted to put out fires in various battles across Africa – from the Sahel to the oceans,” the first lady said.

16 Buhari said it was in the face of these challenges that women proved their special skills as agents of peace in conflict situations, though this role has been largely ignored.

17 She said that accepting and integrating the unique experience, capacity and particularity of women in all aspects of the peace and security sector was therefore essential for the success of each of the components of peace efforts.

18 “To achieve this and other goals, the social, cultural and political barriers that limit women’s full participation in achieving lasting peace must therefore be addressed with a renewed pace.

19 “Fortunately, the follow-up to United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2242 has provided ‘measures and standards’ to monitor the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security mandates, among others,” the First Lady said.

The Minister for the Status of Women, Ms. Pauline Tallin; the President’s Senior Special Assistant on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Amb. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and his wife.

The wife of the Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mrs. Florence Egopijawoman of Edo governor, Mrs. Betsy Obasekiwoman of Plateau governor, Mrs. Regina Lalongamong others, attended the event.

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