By Albert Futukpor
Tamale, March 13, GNA – A week-long training on Preventing Violent Extremism has been held to equip women with the knowledge to understand, identify, and counter extremist ideologies.
It was organised by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international NGO, under its Prevention of Violent Extremism Through Social Accountability (PoVETSA) II project.
The participants included representatives of women-led organisations drawn from the Northern Region, and organised in partnership with the National Peace Council (NPC) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) with funding support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Miss Adelaide Yiriyelleh, Manager of PoVETSA II project at CRS, speaking during the training, said it was to leverage on women’s roles in society to prevent violent extremism.
The PoVETSA II project, which is a continuation of PoVETSA I project, seeks to improve civilian-security trust relations towards the prevention of violent extremism.
Ms Yiriyelleh emphasised the crucial role women played as agents of positive change in communities, saying “We believe that empowering women will create a ripple effect streng
She said, “The training is specifically designed for women to build their capacity and deepen their understanding of violent extremism, conflict analysis, manifestations of extremism, and the legal frameworks for preventing and countering these threats.”
Mr Augustine Owusu, Head of Peace and Security Programmes at KAIPTC, touched on the importance of partnerships in countering violent extremism, saying women were powerful allies, who should be actively involved to promote a more inclusive approach to peacebuilding.
He encouraged participants to share the knowledge with other women in their communities and organisations to help in the fight against violent extremism.
Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director, Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency-Ghana commended CRS and partners for the initiative saying “This workshop will amplify the role of women in preventing violent extremism and contribute to fostering peace and security in our communities.”
GNA
EA/CA