Peace and security talk isn't as scary as I thought

Last week, I received a call inviting me for training that involved peace and security. Peace and security. These two words alone put me off. In my mind’s eye, I could see men in military fatigues, taking participants through peace and security related issues. Just as I was beginning to feel bad for having such a narrow view of peace and security, I asked a few friends to share the first thing that comes to mind when these two words are mentioned. War. Guns. Bombing. Army. Police. These were the top words mentioned.

To be fair, this informal survey involved only 21 people so I cannot authoritatively say that these are what the majority of women associate peace and security with. However, it reveals part of the reason some of us are not warm to the idea of being involved in anything to do with peace and security. One of my respondents said she avoids anything to do with the topic because she does not want to spend her life dodging bullets. In short, I am not alone in my view on the matter.

Fortunately, curiosity won over my aversion towards the topic and I confirmed my attendance. Then came the next hurdle. When I received the programme and agenda, the words ‘Training on the development of NAP III UNSCR 1325 got me cross-eyed --I couldn’t even effectively explain to my colleagues what I was going to attend.

This reminded me of the first time a teacher introduced polymers in Chemistry lessons. Tell me to LOL and SMH and I’m your girl. These are acronyms I can decipher in a second. But mention anything that I cannot relate to, and my interest wanes --the adults call this the ‘millennial problem’ but what it is, is an indicator that information needs to be relatable if I am going to consume it. There are many other things attracting my attention. And this is where the second problem lies.

Peace and security can be misconceived just by its name as I’ve already illustrated; the jargon used to talk about it only makes matters worse.

There were several civil society organisations, plus government ministries, departments and agencies gathered on the invite of UN Women and the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
If you have been in such a setting before, you know that acronyms will be thrown.

As the only participant from the media at the training, I was already feeling out of place and was wary of having to pretend-nod-along to the technical language. As luck would have it, the issue of jargon was among the first issues addressed when the training started. Any acronyms or numbers had to be explained.

That is how I can now comfortably say that I attended a training on the development of the third national action plan to implement the UN Security Council resolution on women, peace and security.
Since this resolution was the 1325th to be adopted at that particular October 2000 day, it is shortened to 1325. If this is just me advertising my ignorance, I do it gladly.

The relief of realising that peace and security is not just about the army and police or war, and that I can participate in different aspects of it as a woman outweighs any shame that arises from admitting my ignorance.

Working in media, I know the stories of women such as Betty Bigombe taking part in peace negotiations. But again, this example feeds my narrow perception of peace and security.

My eyes were opened to the fact that the issue of climate change and environment conservation, which I like to make noise about is also a peace and security issue. I now know that parenting can be linked to peace and security because I heard the stories of mothers in Uganda and Liberia successfully convincing their children to lay down their weapons where other authorities had failed.

I now know that issues such as gender-based violence, human trafficking, creating safe spaces for women to express themselves, addressing toxic humanity, and all the other topics that I can confidently talk about, are tied to peace and security.

As a journalist, I now know what indicators to use when holding people accountable on peace and security. Where I once only raised an eyebrow when people told me I have known only peace and security because I did not have to run from soldiers, I can now confidently call that out for the lie it is.

I am woke. Enough to make sure other people, especially women and anyone else who has harboured any misgivings towards peace and security conversations.

Ms Kenganzi is a journalist.
@gkenganzi