Gender activists have made a strong call for the establishment of Special Courts for gender abuse by the federal and state governments, as part of an effort to speedily reduce violations against women and girls in the country.
The call was made at a Theories of Change dissemination workshop jointly hosted by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center and the West African Women Peacebuilding Network with funding from the University of Leicester, UK.
Participants at the interactive forum decried the slow process of accessing justice for victims of gender violence which was identified as being on the increase, lamenting that endless adjustments in the courts truncate the works of human rights defenders and argued that a special court dedicated to GBV cases will yield better results and encourage both victims and those pushing for justice for them.
The Theories of Change project seeking a more collaborative and sustainable approach in the quest for an end to gender-based violence and increased presence of women in peacebuilding and public decision-making processes was unveiled at the event.
At a meeting with stakeholders drawn from the civil society, academia,/ media, security, representatives of some government agencies, and the religious community in Port Harcourt, project lead of the two theories of change, Dr Zainab Mai-Bornu decried the challenges being faced by women in Nigeria and explained that the strategic partnership targeted by the new concepts which derive their suggested solutions from engagements with women facing the challenges would promote greater positive impact.
She added that the push for synergy between the academia and civil society field operators is necessary to engender faster results in the lives of women through building their leadership, human rights, and economic capacities stressing, that until more women get into decision-making, policy processes will continue to be developed with little or no input from women, thus not addressing their concerns.
According to her, the change process will include a series of activities including participatory research, advocacy, and experience sharing by community women with a plan for a meeting point between women from the northwest and the Niger Delta.
From right-Executive director Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Center, Barrister (Mrs) Uche Uriri, permanent secretary Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, young guest, Michael Obidi, Coordinator Center for Media Environment and Developmental Communications, CEMEDEC and Delta State WIPNET focal person, Mrs. Patricia Obidi.
Prof Fidelis Allen from the University of Port Harcourt, who facilitated the concept and session, explained that increasing conflicts and economic hardship put women more at risk of gender-based violence with serious negative implications for society.
Said he: “There are cases of banditry, kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, indigene-settler disputes, intra and inter-group conflicts, and farmer-herder clashes across the country to varying degrees of intensity.
“These violent acts disproportionately affect women, young girls, children, and persons with disabilities. Although some state governments have put in place institutions charged with responsibilities of peace and security, the participation of women remains low.
Getting more women on decision-making platforms will bring about positive change he stressed.
“Women’s participation in peace-building processes of the government promotes gender inequality and hinders the development of gender-sensitive approaches to tackling insecurity and violence. In the meantime, women are making significant contributions to non-state peacebuilding.”
In her remarks, the executive director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre- Dr. Emem Okon said women are often marginalized in decision-making concerning peace and security and called on participants to actualize the knowledge derived from the workshop to promote the course of women in the Niger Delta region.
The Theories of Change project which is a partnership between Leicester University, UK, represented by Dr. Zainab Mai-Bornu, WANEP-Nigeria represented by Dr. Bridget Osakwe, Kebetkache (Dr. Emem Okon), Ideal Women Advancement Initiative (Pastor Bridget Apiah), Prof Fidelis Allen (University of Port Harcourt), Hajiya Halima Usman Yoman, Reube Fulbe Global Rights & Development Initiatives, Hannatu Ahuwan, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, Dr Saleh Momale, Kaduna State Peace Commission, among others.
