By Abbas Bamalli
Members of the Gender Awareness Trust (GAT), in partnership with FCDO and Tetra Tech, have staged a walk in Katsina metropolis to commemorate the 2025 International Peace Day (IPD).
Speaking shortly after the walk in Katsina, the Executive Director of GAT, Dr Lydia Umar, said that the aim was to create public awareness towards promoting a sustainable peace.
Represented by Mr Mohammed Maifada, the Katsina State Mobilisation Consultant, Umar said that the commemoration has ‘Act Now for a Peaceful World’, as its global theme.
According to her, the day reminds them that peace cannot wait and that the time for action is today, saying, “the theme is not just a call, but an urgent reminder of their responsibility.”
She added that their collective effort showed that peace was not a distant dream, adding, ” neither is it the responsibility of governments alone, but it is a collective action.
“It requires that each one of us, from policymakers to community leaders, from women and youth to every citizen, take deliberate steps to foster understanding, tolerance, and justice without which peace cannot thrive.
“At GAT, we are complementing this with our SPRiNG project theme, ‘Support Inclusive Peace Building’
“For us, this means recognising that true peace cannot be achieved when voices are silenced, when women, young people, and marginalised groups are left behind,” she said.
According to Umar, that inclusivity is not optional, saying, “it is the foundation of sustainable peace which their walk is symbolic, and each step is a pledge that they will not remain silent in the face of violence, division, and inequality.
“Each step is a call for justice, equity and unity. Indeed, peace for women is peace for families, peace for communities, and peace for generations to come.
“At GAT, our commitment is to empower communities to transform conflict into cooperation,” the executive director stated.
She expressed the belief that by addressing the root causes, such as inequality, marginalisation, and mistrust, they can build the foundations for sustainable peace.
Umar said, “But we recognised that no single sector of society can do this alone and in isolation.
“The need for strong partnerships with government, relevant ministries, and with other stakeholders who share in the vision of a safe and inclusive society cannot be over emphasised.
“GAT wishes to emphasise the fact that peace is not only the absence of violence, it is the presence of dignity, opportunity, and well-being for all, especially the vulnerable, women, persons with disability, children, and other marginalised groups.” (NAN)
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