WEST AFRICAN WOMEN'S POLICY FORUM OPENS

The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WASCI) and Women in peace and security Network (WIPSEN) has instigated its West African Women's Policy Forum in Accra. The objective of the forum is to promote a platform for women group's and initiatives to strategies on how to maximize their efforts, to improve coalition building among women groups and organizations, to serve as a annual reflection space for cross section of women in the sub region and to remove competition among women groups and harness a culture of collaboration. Delivering the keynote address at the forum, the Minister for Gender and Development of Liberia Vabah Gayflor said it was necessary as women to come together to address the continued security treats including rape and sexual assault and exploitation that continue to be meted against women and girls. "WE must advocate for justice to be given and for all parties right to be protected". She added that women can not harness the gains if the necessary social services including psychosocial care for instance do not reach out to those who still suffer the consequences of brutal war tactics that is establishing support for widows and ensuring medical attention for sexually assaulted victims.Vabah Gayflor commended the organizers of the forum and hope through forums like this various problems with women will be solved. This forum will help the women in decision making position to reflect on issues affecting women security in the sub region and design concrete strategies for influencing, informing or formulating policy option which will address those issues. This will be adapted as an annual policy forum within the West Africa sub region. Some of the expected topics to be discussed are, resource mobilization for women's policy advocacy, capacity building for women's organization, reviewing the state of women's leadership in the sub region, examining the nature of women's collaboration and interaction among others. The forum is expected to be closed tomorrow for departure of participants from other West African countries.

BY:MICHAEL F. AMEDOR