CEHRD Calls On State Governments to Implement National Action Plan, Other Extant Instruments Aimed At Promoting Rights of Women

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) has joined other rights based organizations and gender activists around the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) commemorated yesterday.

The theme for this year’s IWD, ‘’Make it happen,’’ stands out as it targets activists, government agencies and policy makers. It sees beyond advocacy and campaigns, by encouraging actual implementation of gender sensitive policies. Women need higher representation in governance, economic empowerment, involvement in peace processes, education and policies that combat harmful traditional practices. . Bearing these gaps in mind, the United Nations Security Council 1325 National Action Plan was launch in Nigeria in August 2013.

Organizations like CEHRD, the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), Gender and Development Action (GADA), and several other gender focused civil society organizations, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs are working with state ministries to see to the domestication of the action plan which, when entrenched, would have positive outcomes on the psyche and social standing of Nigerian women.

In spite of the 35% affirmative action for women participation in governance in Nigeria, women continue to be relegated to the back sit when it comes to decision making at all levels of the government, especially at the state and local government levels. This has brought about less attention being given to the plight of women, leading to increased marginalisation. Rape and defilement of girls are commonplace and law enforcement agents pay less attention. It is quite sad to note that the gender units of many security agencies are not functional.

We (CEHRD) call on all state government in Nigeria to adapt and implement to the letter  the above National action plan (NAP) and other extant instruments aimed at  promoting the rights of women,  increase their participation in decision making/peace processes, prosecute perpetrators and prevent harmful practices against women. As part of the ongoing efforts to speed up the momentum of this very important agenda aimed at ensuring gender equality and ending violence against women and girls (VAWG), it is important for the states Ministry of Women Affairs, other relevant Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) to recognize the essence of the NAP and its role in promoting and protecting the rights of women in Nigeria. In this context, while commending States that have already included in their budget funds for possible implementation of the NAP, CEHRD urges those that have not yet done so, to urgently do so.

One of the core activities of the gender unit of CEHRD is to popularise the NAP through members of her peace clubs – a group of young men and women who are working towards reducing violence against women and girls in some communities in Rivers State. Through the Peace clubs, CEHRD has advocated jointly with NSRP, GADA and the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs to include in the state budget funds for the implementation of the state action plan, and also to help in increasing women’s participation in decision making at the local level, and encouraged their political participation. Currently CEHRD partners with the Irish Aid and NSRP to implement an integrated response mechanism for reducing violence against women and girls and to increase women’s inclusion in governance.

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