By Kumba Leigh
The British Peace Support Team Africa in collaboration with Gambia Armed Forces have concluded a two-week training of thirty-eight various security officers on International Legal Framework (ILF), Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Support Operations (GMPSO), Conflict Analysis for Gender Perspective (CAGP), Gender Exploitation and Abuse (GEA), Gender Responsive Monitoring and Reporting (GRMR).
Colonel Musa M. Trawally, representing the Chief of Defence Staff, cautioned the participants that the modules are critical component for security services and to The Gambia Armed Forces in particular in peace support operations.
He added that such capacity building programmes for men and women in uniform will better equip service men in the discharge of their constitutional mandates.
“The primary mission of militaries across the world is to safeguard and defend territorial integrity of their countries. This mission has never changed, but the environment in which we operate is gradually changing as we continue to face new security challenges,’’ he noted.
Trawally stated that it is imperative that the service men are often coach to perfect their skills on challenging circumstances.
He further highlighted that The Gambia will continue to partake in peace support operations in fulfillment of its international obligations in pursuit of peace in the world, adding that peace support operations are usually conducted in heterogeneous communities.
He went on to explain that the study analysis has indicated that the most influential factor affecting them in meeting their needs is gender, and thus, understanding gender dimensions of armed conflicts will enable peace keepers to better comprehend the conflict and the environment in which they occur. “Herefore, the participation of women in peace support operations alongside their male counterparts will be of great importance to the general perception of women’s rights as well as improving the status of women, strengthen their relationships with the local people and increase their effectiveness and response to specific needs,’’ he noted.
For her part, Dr Sellah Kingoro, Senior Gender Advisor, British Peace Support Team Africa, and Westwood Karen, Nairobi, Kenya highlighted that the training is aimed at enhancing the security officers in integrating gender in peace support operations. He explained that they had six modules focusing on the peace supporting environment and to identify how gender can be mainstreamed within the various functions of the military, police and immigration.
She stated that the 49 participants; 34 male and 15 female provided a platform for diversity of ideas and quality discussion through which participants shared their experiences in peace operating missions.
Meanwhile, in the syndicate assignments, participants also demonstrated their ability to reinforce their gender messages in their various platforms.
