Women’s Societal Roles in advancing Peace & Security
Women play a critical role as relates to conflicts and violent extremism since they either mitigate or propagate violence at the societal setting. Men and youth are perceived to be the most affected at the occurrence of any violent act even as efforts to address conflicts and violent extremism are targeted towards them. Additionally, women suffer greatly as they either fall victims or are the target of conflicts and violence thus their involvement is of great importance in ensuring positive efforts towards the vice are sustainable.
Most men who indulge themselves in violent acts are normally responding to provocation by their women. It is a common belief of “proving manhood” upon indulging in violence.
In a recent project dubbed “Usalama Kijijini”, cases of conflicts and acts of violent extremism have been on the rise in Mathare area, Nairobi. COVID-19 that has led to the loss of livelihoods of most Mathare residents has sparked greater enmity between landlords and their tenants. The loss of livelihoods has made it difficult to remit monthly rent dues leading to heated disputes over rent arrears and even extreme measures undertaken by landlords in order to obtain their rightful dues. Women have impacted both positively and negatively in this regard; either pushing their husbands into violent acts or restraining them.
As such, Mathare Peace Kenya funded by the Danish Embassy through the Peace, Security and Stability program initiated the Landlords- Tenants meetings to dialogue on issues facing them. Similarly, the local area chief was included in the consequent meetings while sensitizing the residents on the importance of harmonious living between them. The meetings also invoked the formation of a Landlords-Tenants Association to address matters arising while realizing the peaceful channels of solving disputes through the involvement of local area authority(police). They were all sensitized on the importance of peaceful coexistence and living up to their respective roles most especially during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, in Kilifi County, the mobilization of women towards their involvement in peace initiatives is in progress. Through the Peace, Security and Stability project, the restructuring and strengthening of peace structures to increase women involvement in peacebuilding is underway. Peace committees were sensitized on the Kilifi County Countering Violent Extremism(CVE) action plan and the role of women in this regard. Consequently, women have taken up lead roles in mitigating community conflicts ranging from gender based violence to natural resource-based conflicts within their localities. Women have in turn climbed up the ladder to occupy leadership positions in the peace committees.
Evidently, women have their roles to choose; either to mitigate or propagate violence in society.
