WOMEN CONSORTIUM OF NIGERIA (WOCON)

 STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT’S INAUGURATION SPEECH

WOMEN’S ISSUES ARE NATIONAL ISSUES

Nigerian Women DEMAND;

TRUE DEMOCRACY

1. True democracy is participatory and inclusive of all citizens male and female. Presently despite women constituting almost 50% of the population they are underrepresented in all spheres of governance. Women comprise of less than 6% of those in elective positions and barely 19% in appointive positions in negation of the Nigerian gender policy adopted in 2006 and international human rights laws and conventions endorsed by Nigerian government. (Ref. The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women (CEDAW) Protocol on the Rights of women in Africa, Declaration of Gender equality in Africa.

For a “more inclusive society in which every citizen is a proud and committed stakeholder” Nigeria women need to be equitably represented in all spheres of governance.

RECOMMENDATION: Women of Nigeria DEMAND true Democracy, social Justice for an inclusive and participatory governance through a legal framework in the Constitution that provides as a temporary measure to bridge the gap of age long gender under- representation, the inclusion of at least 35% representation of women at all levels as affirmative action policy in line with the National gender policy 2006.

2. ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY: Poverty is the catalyst to underdevelopment, insecurity and gender based violence and abuse. Nigeria is a rich country with poor people with a per capital income of $2,748 one of the lowest in the world. 70% of the women population are the poorest of the poor living below the poverty level in rural areas. Poverty has increased the vulnerability of women and children to crimes of human trafficking child labour, Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), high rate of maternal mortality, children out of school and other societal abuses.

RECOMMENDATION: Therefore to achieve the desired rapid development Nigerian women recommend the inclusion of social security measures with budgetary allocation to ensure at least a meal a day, shelter, and access to affordable primary health care. 2

3. EDUCATION: Education is key to development. According to UNESCO Nigeria tops the list of children out of school in the world. Nigerian girls are disproportionately denied education in many parts of the country due to cultural beliefs poverty and practice of child marriages. Without education children who are the bedrock of the society and the future generation do not have the foundation to meaningful development. Out of school children are vulnerable to child trafficking, child marriage, abuse and child labour and attendant health hazards in negation of the rights of child under the child rights Act and Child Rights laws of various States.

RECOMMENDATION: Therefore women demand institutionalizing free and compulsory education for all school age children up to secondary school. Abolition of child marriages and provision of uniform age of marriage of a minimum of 18 years.

ISSUED BY

BISI OLATERU-OLAGBEGI

DELEGATE

WOMEN CONSORTIUM OF NIGERIA-

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATION