NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- The international community will rally behind active involvement of women in programs aimed at promoting conflict resolution in African Great Lakes region, a UN official said on Wednesday.
Said Djinnit, special envoy of the UN secretary general for the Great Lakes Region in Africa, said that greater participation of women is key to achieving durable peace, security and economic progress in African Great Lakes region that has in the past grappled with civil strife.
"We have established a platform for women to promote peace and security in the Great Lakes region but there must be deliberate efforts to eradicate beliefs that hinder them from becoming peace champions," Djinnit said.
He spoke in Nairobi during a forum to discuss a UN framework that aims to strengthen participation of women in conflict resolution in the Great Lakes countries reeling from instability.
The day-long forum that was attended by ministers, diplomats, representatives of donor agencies and peace activists resolved to place women and girls at the heart of peace and sustainability agenda in the resource-rich region.
"Women can be effective peacemakers because they understand the consequences of violence better. They should be an integral part of political processes aimed at restoring peace in the Great Lakes countries," said Djinnit.
He urged governments to speed up implementation of a 30 percent quota on female representation in political and peace making organs as agreed by Great Lakes countries in November 2018.
