WRAPA fights social vices through Women’s Day celebrationcreating

Since the maiden edition of the International Women’s Day was first observed on 28th February, 1909 in New York, many women organizations and civil societies across the world have taken it upon themselves to organize certain activities to commemorate the day. Although, the Day was first celebrated on 28th February, however, a year after, in 1910 during the International […]

Since the maiden edition of the International Women’s Day was first observed on 28th February, 1909 in New York, many women organizations and civil societies across the world have taken it upon themselves to organize certain activities to commemorate the day.

Although, the Day was first celebrated on 28th February, however, a year after, in 1910 during the International Women conference, the participants have decided to change the date and thus, March 8th was suggested to become an “International Women’s Day”.

Nigeria, like many other member countries of the United Nations, recognize the day and often celebrate it in grand style with symposium, seminars and other activities with a view to WRAPA fights social vices through Women’s Day celebrationcreating awareness on the rights of women.

In commemoration of this year’s day, the Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) a non-governmental organization joined the league of international organizations and bodies to mark the day in different style.

Prior to the celebration, WRAPA had organized a training seminar for Upper and Shari’a Court judges from the North West region comprising of Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states as part of the sensitization on the need to provide equity, justice and women liberasation in the wake of the growing injustices meted out to them.

Addressing participants of the seminar, the Secretary General of WRAPA, Hajiya Saudatu Mahdi, lamented that women had been subjected to molestation, harassment, utter neglect and violation of their fundamental rights, thus, relegating them to second class citizen in the society.

She said the workshop was organized to sensitize the judges on how best access to justice and protection for women could be improved. The workshops were conducted in Dutse, Jigawa state and Gusau, Zamfara state respectively.

She said the training became imperative considering the high rate of women abuse in marriages by their husbands largely due to lack of knowledge on rules laid down by Islam on marriage.

Hajiya Saudatu emphasized the need for the Judges, as the last resort of the common man and the oppressed, to prudently handle matrimonial cases brought before their respective courts.

She said Islam had given maturity until the real grudges presented by the wives are clearly understood for due justice”.

She explained that, WRAPA intend to restore the lost cordial relatioonship between couples as well as to ensure the matrimonial rights conferred on women by Islamic religion are properly practice in all the Shari’ah courts across the zone.

The WRAPA secretary general pointed out that the concern was on educating men about the rules and regulations governing the institution of marriage so that women consent would be respected.

Also part of the celebration, WRAPA has carried out advocacy visitations and consultations to different groups and individuals including government officials in order to sensitize them to understand that addressing societal problems was a collective responsibility of all and sundry.

The organisation has visited government houses, states assemblies, emirs and other traditional rulers, members of the ulama’s, various associations, trade unions, conventional and Islamiyyah schools, opinion and community leaders, market women and many other groups both formal and non formal artisans among others.

Hajiya Saudatu said there had been positive responses from the various stakeholders visited in the seven states of the North West.

In Kano, the emirate council and the state government have vowed to support the activities of WRAPA, describing the sensitization and consultations as an effective mechanism of promoting attitudinal change for a better society.

The story was the same in Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Zamfara states as the project got positive responses from the stakeholders visited.woman absolute protection, but in most cases, women who filed suits before judges lost their cases due to either poor presentation or shy attitude.

“Part of the project we intend to actualize is to reawaken the consciousness of our judges to, while attending a matrimonial cases before them, always take persuasive steps with maturity until the real grudges presented by the wives are clearly understood for due justice”.

She explained that, WRAPA intend to restore the lost cordial relatioonship between couples as well as to ensure the matrimonial rights conferred on women by Islamic religion are properly practice in all the Shari’ah courts across the zone.

The WRAPA secretary general pointed out that the concern was on educating men about the rules and regulations governing the institution of marriage so that women consent would be respected.

Also part of the celebration, WRAPA has carried out advocacy visitations and consultations to different groups and individuals including government officials in order to sensitize them to understand that addressing societal problems was a collective responsibility of all and sundry.

The organisation has visited government houses, states assemblies, emirs and other traditional rulers, members of the ulama’s, various associations, trade unions, conventional and Islamiyyah schools, opinion and community leaders, market women and many other groups both formal and non formal artisans among others.

Hajiya Saudatu said there had been positive responses from the various stakeholders visited in the seven states of the North West.

In Kano, the emirate council and the state government have vowed to support the activities of WRAPA, describing the sensitization and consultations as an effective mechanism of promoting attitudinal change for a better society.

The story was the same in Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kaduna and Zamfara states as the project got positive responses from the stakeholders visited.