BY GETAHUN LEGESSE
Different national and international organizations have been devising and implementing a number of strategic approaches to ensuring peace and stability all over the world. Among others, United Nations and African Union have been working untiringly to make our planet free from any form of conflict and civil war.
However, it seems that they could not materialize it in productive way and at the desired level due to various reasons.
Evidence indicates that political competition in post-conflict settings can exacerbate violence in the short term while democratic reforms take a long time. In fact, processes such as fair elections, the independence of the judiciary, and civilian control of the security forces can contribute to democracy over the long haul.
Thus, it was said that in promoting peace building, the international community should focus on norms such as legitimacy, representation, and accountability.
As it is learnt from history, state building has its own gradual and natural processes. It is a long-term driven process that is often accompanied by leaders’ personal qualities.
With regard to this, the international community has an important role to play in pulling down the range of challenges faced by countries in their transition toward peace, state building and democracy.
Recently, International Women Peace Group (IWPG) has held its 4th Annual General Meeting where achievements of the past year and the upcoming main plans of IWPG’s were evaluated and introduced.
On the occasion, Yayesh Tesfahuney Kiflay, Member of Parliament of Ethiopia and who has been working for peace in oversea, presented the best practices of peace activists abroad.
“After completing IWPG’s Women’s Peace Education, I realized that if all families in the world understand and recognize this education, it will be a good opportunity to change our perspectives.”
“I dream that Ethiopia will not only be Africa’s oldest independent nation, but also known as a conflict-free country,” Yayesh said. She also pledged to work to see conflict-free day.
IWPG Chairperson Hyun Sook Yoon, on her parts said that peace is not something that the world can give up on. And the Group is working to restore global peace and stability all over the world despite the unparalleled challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.
As to her, the IWPG Women’s Peace Lecturer Education (PLTE) helps the world understand and recognize the role of education in peace keeping.
IWPG mainly focuses on carrying out initiatives such as urging support for the International Peace Law, Women’s Peace Education, exchange and cooperation, and spreading the culture of peace, she added.
“The international peace law for the cessation of war is needed because war is still taking place in different areas throughout the world. If there is no war, then there is no need for an international peace law.”
IWPG and all the branches are working hard in supporting the effective implementation of an international peace law and urge everyone to continue standing with peace deal.
Nadia Hashem Aloul, former Minister of Women’s Affairs of Jordan, on her part said that 2020 was a very challenging and difficult year due to the pandemic, Coronavirus.
Despite COVID-19, IWPG hosted the “SOS Campaign” online to prove itself, and worked to prevent discrimination around the world. “Peace is in the minds of all women who raise a generation of peace”, she said.
The virtual event presented the role and direction of 3.8 billion women around the world. In addition to the announcement of plans for the New Year, there was also time to hear the best practices of domestic and foreign peace activities.
In 2021, IWPG has set plan to actively promote peace activities in response to the post-COVID19 era with the slogan ‘Women who lead peace’ and three core values of coexistence, recovery, and communication.
IWPG will work persistently taking a new leap forward by communicating with 3.8 billion female members around the world to realize peace, she said.
IWPG is Non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and registered with the Global Communications Agency (DGC).
The Ethiopian Herald 9 February 2021
