Nigeria: GECORN Seeks Protection of Women’s Rights

The Gender and Constitution Network (GECORN) has called for constitutional review to accommodate the rights of women in Nigeria and end all discriminatory practices.

The GECORN made the call during a peaceful awareness match along the Enugu/Onitsha expressway in Awka, the Anambra State capital, and other strategic locations.

It was learnt that members of the group wielded placards with different inscriptions, calling for full implementation of various acts and laws that ruled out discrimination against women in Anambra State and other parts of Africa’s most populous nation.

The 1999 constitution, which is currently undergoing review by the National Assembly, is expected to be passed before the end of 2021.

According to recent data by the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), nearly three in ten women have experienced physical violence by age 15.

Figures indicate that gender-based violence (GBV) in the country has been on a steady increase despite the passage of gender protection laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

The law, which was passed in 2015, prohibits all forms of violence against persons and seeks to provide protection and effective remedies for victims of gender abuse.

However, only 18 states of the federation have domesticated the law.

‘This advocacy campaign which is supported by Ford Foundation is apt, given that the language of the 1999 Constitution is masculine, discriminatory against women, as well as disregard existence of women’, the Chairperson of GECORN, Ogugua Ikpeze, said.

‘Sections 22, 42, 146 and others in the constitution should be amended for gender balance, women-friendly and explicitly define the rights of women for easy interpretation and implementations.

‘This road walk is an advocacy campaign to sensitise the public especially the constitutional reviewers on the need for rights of women to be properly accommodated in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

‘The constitution is supreme, therefore, it should be amended in a way that any culture, custom and practices repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience should be removed’.

Source: This Day

Photo source: GERI

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