Accelerate implementation of gender policies, stakeholders tell govt

Federal and states governments in Nigeria have been charged to accelerate the implementation of policies that promote gender equality and women empowerment.

Stakeholders who made the call said it became necessary following the pervasive and deeply entrenched discrimination of women, girls and persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

They made their position known in a communique released at the end of a two-day conference for commissioners of state ministries of women affairs organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), supported by the European Union and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

The conference has the theme “Critical Issues and Opportunities for Enhancing Rights, Protection and Justice for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.”

According to the communique, participants at the conference acknowledged the existing national, regional and global legal instruments, protocols, declarations, treaties and political decisions that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, and progress made;

They stressed the need for multi-sectoral institution to galvanize the transformation of Nigeria into a peaceful country free from all forms of violence.

The communique read: “Fully acknowledging the efforts spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and our respective State Governments, Civil Society and Development Partners to reverse regression and ensuring that the gains made by Nigerian women in leadership are consolidated and sustained;

“Recognizing the inadequacies of the prevailing policy, legal and institutional frameworks to bring about the Nigeria that Nigerian women, children and persons with disabilities want,

We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Government across Federal, State and Local levels to commit accelerating the implementation of agreed policy, legal and institutional frameworks related to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment;

“Implement the parity principle at all levels and in all sectors to ensure women’s contribution to decision-making in all spheres of life;
Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls; Ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable and marginalized women including rural and urban-poor women, the elderly, and persons living with disabilities.

Stressing the need for the government to guarantee and safe-guard the human rights of all Nigerians and reinforce the social justice agenda as a priority, the stakeholders also called on the government to provide commensurate funding in national and state budgets in support of women, children and Persons with Disabilities’ needs”