Women and young people equipped for the effective implementation of Resolution 1325 and 2250 in West Africa and the Sahel
Monrovia, 23 September 2022: The United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in cooperation with UN Women, organised the annual meeting of the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) from 19 to 23 September 2022.
About 30 women and youths from the sub-region attended the meeting which opened in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mr. Parleh Harris, Mr. Niels Scott, UN Resident Coordinator in Liberia, and Ms. Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia. The officials all commended the progress of the Task Force and its commitment to building its internal capacity. They also stressed the need to involve youth more actively in mobilising for peace.
The meeting allowed the members of the Working Group to take stock of their activities during the current year and to develop a work plan for the year 2023. It was also an opportunity for capacity building for the participants who were trained in project planning and resource mobilisation. They were thus equipped with tangible skills that will help them initiate and conduct programmes for the effective implementation of Resolution 1325 (2000) and 2250 (2015) in their home countries.
Furthermore, the members of the working group were keen to mark the International Day of Peace on 21 September by their presence and participation in the celebration organised by the Liberian government. The event highlighted the vital role of women in Liberia's peace efforts.
The Women, Youth, Peace and Security Working Group in West Africa and the Sahel (WGWYPS-WAS) is a coordination tool for the implementation of Resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2250 (2015), and an inclusive platform where women and youth become actors in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. The WGWYPS is coordinated by UNOWAS and UNWOMEN.