The Da Gwom Rwei of Barkin Ladi, Edward Gyang Bot, has pledged his full support for women mediators working to promote peace and resolve conflicts in their communities.
The traditional ruler gave the assurance during a visit by members of the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative (WOPPI) under its Support to Women Mediators Initiative, marking the conclusion of this phase of community engagements in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State.
During the engagement, Edward Gyang Bot encouraged the women mediators to remain steadfast in their peacebuilding efforts, emphasising that men do not have a monopoly on knowledge.
He noted that women’s perspectives and lived experiences are equally important in peace dialogues and conflict resolution, underscoring the need for inclusive participation in efforts to address community conflicts.
Following the palace visit, the women mediators held their bimonthly meeting, during which they reviewed the implementation of their initiatives and discussed emerging security concerns, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), early warning signs, and strategies for strengthening community response mechanisms.
The meeting also highlighted the need for stronger collaboration among women mediators, traditional institutions, security actors, and other relevant stakeholders to improve conflict prevention and response at the community level.
The engagements form part of WOPPI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community-based peacebuilding through inclusive dialogue, local ownership, and collective responsibility.
Through the Support to Women Mediators Initiative, WOPPI continues to promote women’s participation in peace processes and encourage collaboration among community stakeholders towards peaceful coexistence.
