The Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (GPSDC), said it recorded about 52 cases of violence against women in politics before and during the November 6 governorship election in Anambra.
The group said the cases were recorded during the “Stop Violence Against Women in Politics,” (Stop-VAWIP), campaign in Anambra. The Stop-VAWIP campaign is in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) and National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Mrs Eucharia Anekwe, Executive Director, GPSDC, during her presentation at the launch of Anambra Women Agenda (AWA), on Saturday in Awka, said the campaign was to mitigate the disturbing trend of violence against women.
“Women’s political participation in Anambra has retrogressed in the past eight years due to act of electoral violence such as threats, hate speech, assault and blackmail directed at them, hence the Stop- VAWIP campaign.
“During the campaign which started weeks to the governorship election, we recorded about 52 victims who narrated their experiences as aspirants, elected officials, election officials, voters and other electoral stakeholders.
“This is why we brought together a coalition of women organisations called ‘Nwanyi-bu-ife’, to raise awareness of violence against women in politics and election in the state.
“This coalition planned strategic advocacies and came up with the Anambra Women Agenda to address gender-based violence and drive the progress and development of women in the state,” Anekwe said.
Also speaking, Mr Glory Nwaka, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, GSPDC, said the agenda would improve women’s participation in leadership, governance and elective politics in the state.
“The document will help forge a unity of purpose and support women voters, political aspirants, candidates as well as encourage the public to desist from gender-based electoral violence in the state,” he said
Mrs Roselynn Musa, Gender Advisor, NDI, described violence against women in politics as an intolerable violation of women’s rights which poses fundamental challenges to democratic values and electoral processes.
She said that NDI supports programmes that strengthen electoral integrity and uphold the values of equality and inclusivity that lie at the heart of democracy.
Suzan O.
