February 9, 2024 (Entebbe, Uganda): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) through its Centre of Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE) with support from the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) held the Regional Legislators Meeting on Gender Sensitive P/CVE Legislations in Entebbe, Uganda.
The three-day regional meeting provided a platform for the legislators to share progress achieved on the commitments they fronted at the ‘Inaugural Regional Meeting’ held 6-8 December 2023 in Mombasa, Kenya, to push for gender sensitive P/CVE legislations and also deliberate on the policy briefs derived from the previously presented research findings.
The Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa graced the opening ceremony of this “Regional Legislators Meeting’ and in his remarks emphasized on the need to include women meaningfully in peace and security and he pledged to follow through and ensure that the Goverment of Uganda approves its comprehensive strategy on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism which has been in review since 2021.”
Additionally, the Director of IGAD Excellence for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (ICEPCVE) Dr. Simon Nyambura, speaking on behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, noted that:
“the regional forum brought together Member of Parliaments (MPs) from the region to discuss the legal frameworks that can be put in place to support the region in fighting Terrorism and Violent Extremism emphasizing that
MPs were critical stakeholders in P/CVE because they are close to the people, know the challenges faced by the people, make laws that guide people and allocate resources for fighting Violent Extremism and terrorism, especially to the national and regional bodies responsible for P/CVE.”
While at the regional meeting, the legislators reviewed and renewed their commitments which included:
- Reviewing existing P/CVE legislations strategy and policy documents and frameworks from a gender angle
- Continuously monitoring all efforts to ensure gender perspectives are integrated and implemented.
- Championing the adoption of the IGAD P/CVE strategy in the region.
