The Women, Peace and Security Institute at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), together with the Ghana Armed Forces, with support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, has initiated a national media campaign focused on raising awareness and inspiring women to engage in combat and combat support roles in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The national media campaign is to enhance the recruitment of women into the Ghana armed forces and promote women interest in combat units, fostering their participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions worldwide.
According to the Commandant at the KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo, the centre is fully dedicated to promoting United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
“This resolution advocates for gender equality, meaningful participation, and women’s leadership in peace and security processes,” Maj. Gen. Addo said.
He noted that the centre’s commitment extends beyond Resolution 1325, encompassing other important documents such as United Nations Council Resolution 2242, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, and the Maputo Protocol.
“These resolutions share common objectives related to promoting gender equality, empowering women, and safeguarding their rights,” he emphasized.
Major General Addo emphasized that the KAIPTC recognizes the immense benefits of attaining sustainable peace and security through inclusive decision-making and peace processes involving both men and women.
“This belief serves as the foundation for the centre’s research, training programs, and policy engagements on women’s participation in combat units as well as peacekeeping missions, the Commandant stated.
Major General Addo explained that the project’s objectives include conducting a media campaign to raise awareness about career opportunities available to women, especially in combat units.
The campaign aims to dispel misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding women in uniform while highlighting the accomplishments of women serving in the armed forces.
He added that the media sensitization efforts would be complemented by a comprehensive school awareness exercise covering all sixteen regions of the country.
This initiative aims to educate senior high school girls and female students at tertiary institutions, providing them with information about the opportunities and benefits of pursuing a career in the military.
In his keynote address at the launch event in Accra, Deputy Minister for Defense, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, expressed his gratitude to the Elsie Initiative Fund and its contributors for providing the Ghana Armed Forces with the opportunity to promote the meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations.
He also conveyed his confidence in the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre and the Ghana Armed Forces in successfully implementing the project.
Deputy Minister Amankwa-Manu indicated that the media campaign and other initiatives supported by the fund would serve as tangible demonstrations of Ghana’s commitment to United Nations Resolutions 1322 and 2242, as well as the Maputo Protocol of the African Union.
Mr. Andrew Maharaj, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Canada High Commission in Ghana, highlighted that the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations was launched by the Canadian government during the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2017.
According to him, the primary objective of the initiative is to promote the meaningful participation of women in military and police roles within UN peace operations.
He emphasized that the project goes beyond a mere focus on numbers and instead strives to enhance the genuine involvement of women in peacekeeping operations.
“As a result, Canada takes pride in its partnership with Ghana and actively engages in various projects of the Elsie Initiative,” he added.
Mr. Maharaj further announced that, Canada would be providing approximately $1.5 million Canadian dollars to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) to strengthen the Ghana Armed Forces’ institutional capacity.
The funding aims to address the barriers faced by women seeking deployment to UN peace operations and advance gender equality within the armed forces.
Story By: Sulemana Zakaria |www.diamondfmonline.com |Ghana.
