CS Omamo champions inclusion of women in decision making

Cabinet Secretary Amb Raychelle Omamo Tuesday chaired the 1063rd session of AU Peace and Security Council on the topic on Urbanization, Women Peace and Security addressing the nexus between Women, Peace and Security and Urbanization, as Kenya chairs PSC for the month of February.

During the session, CS Omamo said urban planning and development ought to be elevated to a national security issue, while also making it gender-sensitive taking into account the unique challenges pertinent to women and girls.

In addition, CS Omamo pointed out issues such as easier access to hospitals, sanitary and hygiene facilities and effective policing, as necessary for increasing the security of women and their participation in society.

“Women especially those in informal sectors need to be meaningfully included in political decision making, to enable them to bring their issues to the peacebuilding table and to create conditions for a gender-inclusive sustainable peace,” she said.

CS Omamo raised for discussions such as: How women in urban settings can become agents of peace and stability in post-conflict rebuilding processes; and how existing organic peacebuilding efforts by local women can be incorporated into peace negotiations and agreements.

Guest speakers during the signature AUPSC events on urbanization, Women Peace and Security included Bineta Diop (Special Envoy of AU Chair on WPC), Maimunah Mohd Sharif (Executive Director, UN-Habitat) and Mabingue Ngom (Senior Advisor to Executive Director, UNFPA).