The African Union (AU) Commission ECOSOCC Peace and Security Cluster Meeting

The African Union Commission convened a meeting of ECOSOCC Peace and Security Cluster from 13-14 October 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Standing Committee as the executive organ of ECOSOCC at its 1st and 2nd Ordinary Sessions held in May and August 2015, respectively, were seized with the implementation process of the decisions of the ECOSOCC General Assembly and the AU Summit and consequently gave specific guidelines for details to be finalized by the Presiding Officer, relevant Cluster Chairpersons and the ECOSOCC Secretariat.

The ECOSOCC General Assembly also recognized the importance of the Sectoral Clusters, as it was underscored in its Cairo Decision as a main priority for the current

Peace and Security in Africa: Strategy for Sustainable Development

Definition of Peace

Peace can be defined as:

(i)Freedom from disturbance; tranquillity

(ii) A state or period in which there is no war or war has ended.

Also;

The Macmillan English Dictionary defines Peace as:

A situation in which there is no war between countries or groups;

A situation in which you are not annoyed by noise or other people; and

A state when you are calm and have no worries.

Definition of Security:

Security is the degree of resistance to, or protection from harm. It applies to any vulnerable asset, such as a person, dwelling, community, nation, or organization.

Issues of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country’s borders.

However, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country has been increasing in leaps and bounds each passing day since the beginning of the insurgency in the North-East Nigeria.

Also, some people are IDPs as a result of floods and other natural disasters.

Peace and Security Challenges

Deterioration of general security condition in Nigeria, West Africa and other African Countries of the Region are given the citizens great concern on how to sustain peace in the Region.

However, unions, human rights activists,media, civil society organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders are concerned with the negative trend and determined to strengthen efforts, to manage and resolve national security challenges/ problems confronting the country.

Also, there is a need to sustain peace in West Africa and other African Countries as to bring about development in Africa.

The way forward

• The need partnership for local action: Partnership

(i) Is an arrangement in which parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interest;

(ii) A strategic alliance between two or more people, institutions, countries, etc.

• Promote peaceful conflict resolution, peace, reconciliation and tolerance through:

-Education;

-Training;

-Community actions;

-Youth programs;

-Women programs;

– Etc.

• Active participation of women in leadership;
• Reviewing political conflicts that escalate into armed struggles;
• The need to start seeing the next person as a brother/ sister will make us go along way and achieve more starting from various communities;
• We also need to start from our various homes by examining how are children are socialized indoctrinated and parents can encourage relationships that promote equality, respect and non-violence;