OUR SECOND GENDER/SALW TRAINING BEGINS ON A HIGH NOTE

EASSI is currently conducting her second month-long training on the gender dimension of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) that targeted the countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Southern Sudan.

The training started on a high note with an opening ceremony at the National Focal Point on Small Arms in Uganda. At the opening, the participants met with Executive Committee of the NFP, officials from selected government institutions and the Uganda Prison Force as well as other security institutions. The opening ceremony was based on the fact that NFPs work civil society organizations and that also because EASSI is a member of the Uganda Action Network on Small Arms (UANSA). 

Six of the 8 beneficiaries of this year’s training  were drawn from the five EAC Focal Points on Small Arms which are government institutions mandated to implement programmes aimed at combating illicit proliferation of SALW. The participants were nominated by the respective NFP secretariats in consultation with the EAC office on Peace and Security. The other two participants from Ethiopia and Southern Sudan were recommended for the training on grounds that the two countries also have ongoing SALW issues.

Participants are expected use acquired knowledge to add a gender lens to their work on SALW work in their countries. The objectives of the training are to enable participants: appreciate the concept and scope of gender mainstreaming in SALW Programs; recognize that SALW interventions can be more effective if they integrate a gender perspective; develop strategies that ensure that integration of gender dimensions take place in their various levels of SALW interventions;  and develop action plans for the way forward in mainstreaming gender into SALW programs.

EASSI is closely following up on the impact of the training given that SALW issues affect women Africa-wide. This is one of her advocacy strategies against proliferation of arms in Eastern Africa.

EASSI as a lead organization in advocating gender dimensions of Small Arms also plans to evolve the training into an annual event to create strong foundations for future national campaign