The United Nations has urged the National Assembly to ensure the immediate passage of Gender Equal Opportunities Bill (GEOB), insisting that it’s passage and other related legislation would help in mitigating some of the challenges facing Nigeria.
The UN Women stated that the GEOB
seeks equal rights for women, men and persons living with disabilities, as well as elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and ensure the equality of opportunities for every person.
Speaking at a Roundtable of the Africa Women Leaders Network, AWLN in Abuja, Nigeria, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, said there was need for a holistic approach to enabling the passage of women rights bills.
She said that: “African women have to stir change – real change! Our strategizing must look at bringing resources to the full passage and implementation of the VAPP, GEOB and all gender-progressive laws. We should look to invest resources in support to survivors of violence and their access to justice. We should look to invest resources in the emergence of women leaders across all sectors and breaking down the barriers that would look to hinder them.”
She also stressed the importance of synergies in fostering innovative interventions, stressing that: “UN Women is acutely aware of the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships with multi-stakeholders, both external and internal partnerships, and those existing partnerships, as well as the opportunities for forging new alliances and collaborative engagement. This engagement therefore provides us with an invaluable opportunity to reconvene all AWLN Clusters to critically assess our progress and outline actionable steps forward.
“Synergies must be fostered with innovative interventions in alignment with the Government, namely, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, and civil society through women’s led organisations and networks.”
She said: “We look forward to the action plan that will emerge from today’s deliberation, UN Women stands in full solidarity with the African Women Leader’s Network. We look forward to the action plan that will emerge from today’s deliberation, UN Women stands in full solidarity with the African Women Leader’s Network.”
On her part, the Chairman Africa Women Leaders Network, AWLN, Professor Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam, said despite the important landmarks of AWLN Nigeria, a lot still needs to be done to stabilize the association.
She said: “Today’s meeting is an opportunity to take stock of where we are in the journey towards creating a better reality and future for women and girls in our corner of the African continent.
“The agenda for this meeting, underscores the importance as well as the urgency for a well-connected and focused movement of women leading for positive change.
“It is important, because it brings together notable activists working on a broad range of gender-related issues that align with the five priority areas earmarked by ALWN for concerted and collective action. AWLN actions must aim at engendering the inherent valuation of women and girls, and their contribution to society.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Professor Uju Ohanenye, said that increasing number of women in leadership positions has a direct bearing in the reduction of violence against women and girls in the society.
She noted that: “Achieving Women increased in leadership positions and eliminating all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls is one of the several burning issues facing the country and especially the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“The political space and environment for us to actively engage in leadership position remain so unfriendly. My assertion on this is serious because even with the constitutionally guaranteed rights accorded Nigerian women; in practice most women are still relegated to the background when it comes to issues of leadership, governance/ politics and decision making.
“It is in the public knowledge that, in spite of several efforts made by women in Nigeria’s political field, our participation in politics and governance still falls short of the 35% target entrenched in the National Gender Policy and other frameworks. I therefore believe women’s leadership and the elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls goes hand in hand.”
She added that: “In the Ministry, we will do all possible to support and ensure improvement/empowerment of women and other vulnerable members of our society including the implementation of key critical laws and resolutions. I call for cooperation and synergy in our work for the realization of the sustainable development goals agenda 2030 on gender equality and women empowermen.”
The African Women Leaders Network is a movement of African women leaders, implemented with the support of the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace, and Security, and of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
The initiative aims to enhance the leadership of women in the transformation of Africa, in line with Africa Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
