As the global community celebrates the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD), the National Human Rights Commission in Nigerian (NHRC), has appealed to the Nigerian Parliament to reconsider the issue of affirmative action on women participation in governance and elections.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission Mr Tony Ojukwu, (SAN) through his Media aid Fatimah Agwai, made the plea in a message to commemorate the 2022 Internationl Womens Day celebration in Abuja, Nigeria.
While commending the National Assembly for the landmark constitutional reforms, Mr Ojukwu used the opportunity of the International Women’s Day to call on the National Assembly to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, saying it will reduce gender-based violations.
Human rights violations
He said it would also give the women a legal backing to address the challenges of inequalities confronting them, including other forms of heinous human rights violations suffered only by women.
He added that “It will be unfortunate if the ongoing constitutional reforms did not address the issue of affirmative action for woman. The issue of increasing representation across board should be considered to allay the fears of men who fear they may be displaced by women in the various constituencies.”
“New constituencies to meet up affirmative action can be created. NIgeria can bear the marginal cost in governance and balance this out by reducing the number of personal or special assistants, Technical Assistants and Advisers etc allowed for political office holders,” he said.
Mr Ojukwu further said that, the Commission has been receiving very high number of complaints of human rights violations from the area of women and children.
“These complaints are in different forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Female Genital Cutting, denial of inheritance, Domestic violence, non provision of necessaries and shelter for wife and children and a myriad of other gender based violations.”
The human rights boss said that, the Commission would continue to strive for the cause of women’s rights in the country.
“We have put different mechanisms in place to address the issues relating to violence against women”. “Today we have a department solely devoted to handling issues of women, considering the quantum of complaints we receive”.
“It is designed in such a way that people can complain from any part of the country. The platform will link complainants to nearest service provider to their location to address their complaint,” Mr Ojukwu further explained.
Women inclusion
He noted that, with the collaboration of Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the EU- UN Spotlight Initiative, NHRC has established a call center and a helpline (toll-free) number dedicated for victims of SGBV.
Mr. Ojukwu identified women inclusion at decision-making levels in the country as crucial for national development.
He pointed out that “women are the pillars of our future, given the enabling environment and opportunity, women have the potential to turn things around to make the world great and a better place for everyone to live in.”
Mr Ojukwu noted that, this year’s theme “Gender equality today for sustainable tomorrow” was very apt considering the role that women play in nation-building.
According to him, the 21st-century women are more than housewives, describing them as major players and shareholders in policies and programmes affecting the society and should be encouraged to do more.
Remain focused
The human rights Boss also used the opportunity of the celebration to encourage Nigerian women to continue to remain focused on the struggle to achieve affirmative action.
“Nigeria is proud of our women who have made it in the global community. We are proud of Hajiya Aisha Buhari, Ist lady of NIgeria, Dame Paulin Talen, Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Sadiya UMAR Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Justice Mary Peter Odili of the Supreme Court, Our Female Senators and Representatives, Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director-General World Trade Organization, Chimamanda Adichie, renown Nigerian Writer and the host of others, etc. “I strongly believe that we have more of such achievers among our women, let us all come together to encourage them to come out more and play their unique role towards national development”.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Electoral Amendment Bill into Law, Ojukwu urged the electorate to use the opportunity to vote in more women into power.
He also urged them to hold candidates and representatives accountable for their stand on affirmative action, encouraging all stakeholders to ensure that the new law is operated in such a way as to guarantee free and fair elections.
Lateefah Ibrahim
