By Martha Nyam
Jos, – The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria says it has trained staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NCDC) and Plateau Peace Building Agency on responses to violence ahead 2023 general elections.
The FIDA National President, Mrs Amina Agabaje, made this known at a workshop in Jos on Friday.
She said that the workshop was aimed at protecting women during elections to enable them to participate actively in politics.
Agabaje, represented by the state Chairperson of FIDA, Mrs Obioma Achilefu, said that the workshop was in partnership with the Canadian government and UN Women International.
“Recognisable eradication of political violence before and after election is key to advancing women’s participation in politics.
“The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has observed that female voters are affected by all forms of election related violence or threat which keep them away from the polling units.
“It is on this premise that this workshop is being organised towards improving the participation of women by mitigating violence perpetrated against women in the 2023 general elections,” she said.
Agabaje alleged that women are marginalised in public life leading to minimal participation and representation in politics.
According to her, low participation of women in Nigeria’s electoral process has limited their contribution in decision making and the democratic growth of the country.
The State Commandant, NSCDC, Alexander Barunde, in a goodwill message, said that violence against women was deep rooted in the patriarchal culture of African nations.
Barunde, represented by MrsbVictoria James, Gender Desk Officer, NSCDC, said “this culture has put women in disadvantaged position” and calls for urgent solution.
He said the average Nigerian woman has a lot of potential and women constitute a larger number of the voting population which if well utilised could make the country great.
He said the workshop would help the corps to work towards achieving a peaceful election which would also promote and improve women participation in politics.
Mrs Rita Lasoju, FIDA National Officer, in her data presentation indicated that the rate of women participation in formal decision making had remained one of the lowest in Nigeria and the world at large.
Lasoju claimed that the number of women in elective positions at both the national and subnational levels had hampered development across sections in the country.
She regretted that there were only four women deputy governors and few women in the parliament and state houses of assembly in the country in the 2015 election.
A participant, DCP Sabo Mathias, said that the training would equip them in identifying and tackling security challenges that would affect participation of women during elections.
Mathias said that the corps had mapped out techniques to protect women and other vulnerable groups against acts that would affect them during elections.(NAN)
