The mission’s goal was to advance peace by advancing the equality, empowerment and well-being of women, which is in line with the Secretary-General’s vision and the relevant Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n
In both countries, Ms. Mohammed noted, the mission met with Heads of State, ministers, donors, diplomats, faith leaders, parliamentarian and the respective Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ mission and country teams, spending the lion’s share of time with the women and girls most affected by conflicts, including through visits to camps for internally displaced persons.<\/p>\n
The international community needs to better understand the role of women in development and peace building alongside the gender dimensions of conflict if our responses are to be effective\u00a0Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ deputy chief Amina Mohammed<\/small><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While each country is unique, the situations share some commonalities, she said, noting that sexual violence is widespread in the DRC, and abductions, forced marriage and the use of women as suicide bombers have taken a terrible toll in northern Nigeria, where in the camps sexual exploitation, including in the form of \u201csex for food\u201d is a new and alarming trend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe international community needs to better understand the role of women in development and peace building alongside the gender dimensions of conflict if our responses are to be effective,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Turning to country-specific matters, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ deputy chief said that the mission was touched by the meeting with the schoolgirls, who were abducted in Nigeria’s Chibok and then released, after years in captivity, by the Boko Haram group.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir remarkable strength as survivors rather than victims is inspiring. Many are receiving education and psychosocial support to prepare them for reintegration,\u201d Ms. Mohammed said, noting that thousands of other young women who have been subjected to sexual violence and affected by conflict in other ways are still to receive adequate support.<\/p>\n