The United Nations says women must be given a greater role in African societies if peace is to return to Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed briefed the UN Security Council following her trip to the two countries – the first high level visit that has focused solely on women and security.
Mohammed called the trip “the first of its kind,” saying never before had the UN undertaking a mission to explore the role of women in peace, security and development.
She said the situation in the DR Congo “remains complex and volatile.”
While in Nigeria, she was able to spent time with some of the almost 300 girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants from Chibok in 2014. Since then, over half have been released or escaped.
“In Nigeria, we were moved by our meeting with the Chibok Girls facilitated by the Honorable Minister of Women’s Affairs. Their remarkable strength as survivors rather than victims is inspiring, she said.
Mohamed said the DR Congo and Nigeria were chosen as they both have “dismayingly low levels” of women in politics or government, and also because both are experiencing conflicts where there are “extremely high levels” of sexual violence and abuse deliberately targeting women and girls.
Mohamed said sexual violence, forced marriage, using women as suicide bombers – all of this had to stop. But she noted that the international community needed to better understand the role of women in peace and development if the UN and the AU are to improve empowerment of women and girls in these nations.
