Abuja: The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has tasked judges with advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda within the justice system. Kekere-Ekun made this call during a Capacity Strengthening and Dialogue Workshop for Judicial Officers on the WPS Agenda held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop was organized by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in collaboration with the Federal Ministries of Women Affairs and Justice, with support from the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The Chief Justice emphasized the crucial role of the judiciary in promoting the WPS agenda, asserting that sustainable peace and justice in Nigeria rely on a responsive, accessible, and accountable justice system.
Kekere-Ekun highlighted the importance of the workshop, which convened under the theme ‘Operationalising the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, NAP3,’ and validated the National Judicial Guide on Women, Peace, and Security. She stressed that operationalizing NAP3 in the judiciary involves ensuring the principles of the WPS agenda are reflected in case hearings, procedures, and judicial training.
She pointed out that the judiciary holds responsibilities to protect rights, promote participation, ensure accountability, and guarantee access to justice for women, children, and vulnerable groups affected by conflict and insecurity. She noted that slow, inaccessible, or insensitive court processes weaken justice, whereas informed and responsive courts strengthen accountability and public confidence in the rule of law.
Kekere-Ekun acknowledged existing gaps between legal standards and the experiences of court users, particularly survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced women and girls, and other vulnerable groups. She indicated that these challenges often stem from the complexity of cases, limited data, evolving legal standards, and the absence of practical guidance tailored to conflict-related and gender-based harm.
She further stated that the integration of the judicial guide into education through the NJC is welcomed as it promotes consistency, sustainability, and preserves judicial discretion. The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, also commended the NJI and SPRiNG for their efforts in strengthening justice delivery through inclusive and rights-based approaches, emphasizing the courts’ central role in translating constitutional and statutory protections for women and girls.
Justice Babatunde Adejumo, Administrator of the NJI, reiterated the Institute’s commitment to facilitating capacity-building initiatives aligned with international standards. He highlighted the collaborative effort between the NJI, SPRiNG, and other partners to support the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
In her remarks, Amina Akano-Bello, Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Lead for the SPRiNG Programme, stated the workshop aimed to review and validate the WPS Guide for the Nigerian Judiciary, ensuring the judiciary translates WPS commitments into actionable standards. She emphasized the judiciary’s critical role in advancing the UNHCR 1325 agenda on Women, Peace, and Security, noting Nigeria’s progress with its National Action Plans. Akano-Bello also highlighted SPRiNG’s role in supporting efforts to build a more stable Nigeria with reduced violence and improved resilience.