๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐. ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ.
A four-day training on mainstreaming women’s rights and promoting gender equality in peace support operations has ended for Gender Focal Point and Female Engagement Officers from both the Police and the Military.
The training was jointly organized by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Protection, Human Rights, and Gender (PHRG) Cluster and the African Union Compliance Framework (AUCF), for thirty-two participants from the ATMIS.
And aim at enhancing participantโs skills in effective gender mainstreaming and contributing meaningfully to ending gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual abuse.
During the training session, the Police Commissioner for ATMIS, Commissioner of Police (CP) Hillary Sao Kanu from
Sierra Leone spoke on the importance of promoting gender equality and women’s rights within ATMIS Military and Police operations.
She described the training as crucial in generating solutions to empower women, promote gender equality, and overcome societal barriers such as pay gaps, gender-based violence, and sexual-based violence.
Gender equality, according to CP. Hillary Sao Kanu is not just about women’s rights issues, but it’s about human rights and fairness.
“Upholding the rights of women has always been part of the value system of African cultures. Therefore, it’s imperative that we entrench these values into ATMIS’ operations and ensure that we do no harm and protect women and children in our areas of operations,” said the Deputy Head of Mission for ATMIS, Sivuyile at the opening ceremony.
He added, that equipping our Gender Focal Point Officers
with enhanced skills in gender mainstreaming and addressing gender-based violence, would not only strengthen ATMIS’s operational effectiveness but also contribute to the broader goal building a more inclusive and just society.
The training, he said underscores our dedication to ensuring that women’s voices are heard, their rights are protected, and their contributions are valued in all aspects of our peace support operations. And as we move forward, Mr. Sivuyile encouraged all to remember that gender equality is no just a women’s issue, but a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of sustainable peace and development.
At the closing ceremony, the Acting Head of PHRG Cluster for ATMIS, Dr. Omar Alasow, said the participants would subsequently undergo a Training of Trainers (TOT) course to enable them to share their knowledge with other officers in the sectors.
The participants were said to have been trained on various topics, including prevention of sexual exploitation, and abuse, gender-based violence, human rights and protection of women and International Humanitarian Law.
The training also covered Somalia’s Legal Policy framework for gender equality and strategies for effective partnership with Somali women and the Federal government incorporate women in peace and security agendas.
The Sector (2) Female Engagement team lead and Dhobley Women Association focal point for ATMIS, Captain Valary Shikuku, said he was grateful for the training, emphasizing its importance in advancing women’s rights.
He assured that the training will enable him to support his fellow troop members and the women we engage with in our daily operations.
Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP), Michael Oluge emphasized the role of men in safeguarding women’s rights, particularly in during conflict.
“I have gained invaluable knowledge and the skills to through this training it’s been a good training experience, and I urge the facilitators to consider including more men in such training,” said AIP.
