‘Laws on domestic offences not women rights friendly’

In what areas do you think Nigerian women are still suffering marginalization and discrimination, and how can they be addressed? Women in Nigeria still suffer discrimination in political participation; they experience discrimination in the area of labour and the economy; and there is the prevalence of violence against women in Nigeria. Nigeria laws have a […]

In what areas do you think Nigerian women are still suffering marginalization and discrimination, and how can they be addressed?
Women in Nigeria still suffer discrimination in political participation; they experience discrimination in the area of labour and the economy; and there is the prevalence of violence against women in Nigeria.
Nigeria laws have a number of provisions relating to sexual and domestic offences that are especially not women’s rights friendly. Lack of education has been a strong visible barrier to female participation in the formal sector. The social pressures on females such as early marriages, and other extraneous factors as well as consideration of female education as secondary to that of boys and certain inhibitive religious practices in some parts of the country are the major causes of the high illiteracy rate amongst women.
Women suffer other marginal discrimination since independence. Hundreds of thousands of women have been sold into slavery, as wives or prostitutes, after being kidnapped or tricked into going with traffickers.
Reproductive rights implies that people should have the ability to reproduce, that women can go through pregnancy and child birth safely and that reproduction is carried to a successful outcome but this right is far from Nigeria.
The problem has to be confronted transitionally and ultimately. Transitionally, we have to agitate for equal opportunities for men and women, free functional health care and education, provision of gainful employment, to mention a few. Ultimately, there is need for social reconstruction of the society as the total solution to women’s oppression, and to allow some temporary gains that can be achieved as a result of mass struggles of the oppressed masses to be permanent.
 
What mechanisms do you think still needs to be put in place to fully promote women and girl child rights in the country?
I think beyond advocacy which is what most of us are doing now; we need to develop a law and policy reform mechanism. Most of the laws in Nigeria and even government policies are not gender responsive, so we need to review our laws and policies to promote women and girl rights.
The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill needs to be passed into law; the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill if passed into law will go a long way to promote women and girl rights in Nigeria. It will also bridge the gap of discrimination against women and girls at all levels of government.
 
What is your take on violence against women especially with the rising cases of rape and domestic violence in the country?
The prevalence of violence against women, most especially young women is very worrisome and that is why we have swung into action for a zero tolerance on violence against women.
At the level of Women Arise we are currently implementing a programme that will bring all stakeholders – government, civil society, community gatekeepers e.t.c. together to discuss this issue and come up with a national plan of action for the eradication of all forms of violence against women.
While this is going on, we are also keeping a close watch on the society to ensure that we are not caught unawares again. We are raising ambassadors who campaign against violence on women and who are also empowered to report all cases of violence against women.
We are have resolved not to allow any case(s) of rape and other related violence against women not to be treated with kid-glove again.
We have also formed a coalition of civil groups to work together to end violence against women in Nigeria.

You have been an activist for over two decades, how have you been able to balance the home with activism?
I try to balance the two because if one fails in one then one has failed in all. The home front is properly taken care of.

You are one of the 10 phenomenal women honoured by US first lady, Michelle Obama and US Secretary of State, John Kerry in the US, some months ago. Tell us about your experience.
It is an awesome experience and a wonderful stay on global stage. It is a refinement process for all the practical involvement and field activities one has engaged in over the years.
Sharing experiences with other homes across the world who are engaged in similar struggles was quite refreshing with a wider perspective on refreshing to improve one’s work and continually leverage on the strengths of others. Meeting with policy makers and those working behind the scene in the American establishment was a great exposure and an opportunity to see the inner workings of a system that has given hope to the world.
Perhaps one of the outstanding lessons of the trip was the realization of how institutional memory is key to the sustainability of human endeavours.
The American institutional memory is superb and a veritable example for all those looking for noun to their verb in the syntax of human experience. Above all, the American Secretary of State and the President wife honouring those working to improve the conditions of marginalized groups send a powerful message to the “big men” misbehaving in government everywhere that the future belongs to the forces of regeneration.

 Some women particularly those at the grassroots are oblivious of their rights till date, and when abused don’t know what to do or where to go, how do you think they can be helped?
The only way to help them is what we are doing at Women Arise for Change Initiative. We are conducting women’s human rights education for grassroots women, this is to educate, enlighten and sensitise them on their rights and what to do if this rights are violated.
We also run a women’s human rights clinic where cases of abuse and violation can be reported and treated accordingly.
We also have some NGOs that provide counselling and support services for female victims of abuse  among others. The decision we have reached in recent time is for all of us (NGOs) to work together and provide information to women at the grassroots so as to help them transcend the level of ignorance.

What is your advice for people who have the notion that protection of women rights are attempts by women to overshadow the men in the home and other spheres?
I simply tell them to wave off such notion because it is unprogressive and archaic. The world is moving on, development and a plural society cannot be achieved without the participation of women.
They need to understand that the marginalization of women who are more than 49% of the Nigerian population cannot bring development into this country. Women must put their maximum potentials to bear in Nigeria.