Nigeria: Senate advocates gender parity for women
*Nigerian Senate
(Nigeria) The Senate has advocated gender parity as a priority for women in the amendment of the Constitution.
The position of the upper chamber was conveyed on Thursday when it adopted a six-point resolution sequel to the consideration of a motion on the 2020 International Women’s Day with the theme: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.”
(Nigeria) The Senate has advocated gender parity as a priority for women in the amendment of the Constitution.
The position of the upper chamber was conveyed on Thursday when it adopted a six-point resolution sequel to the consideration of a motion on the 2020 International Women’s Day with the theme: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.”
The motion which was sponsored by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP
– Rivers West) was Co-sponsored by eight other female Senators in the Ninth
Assembly.
Senator Apiafi, in her motion, said that the International
Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 annually, and is a day set aside to
globally celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of
women.
According to the lawmaker, the day seeks to celebrate
women’s contributions to society and raise awareness about the fight for gender
parity.
She noted that the International Women’s Day was first
officially recognized in 1911, and later recognized by the United Nations in
1975.
The lawmaker said in 1975, during the 50th anniversary of
the United Nations, over 189 countries converged in Beijing, China for the 4th
World Conference on Women and signed an action plan tagged “Beijing
Declaration.”
According to her, some of the declarations agreed by all
governments that participated in the conference included: Advancing the goals
of equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of
all humanity.
Apiafi, however observed that, “in spite of the Beijing
Declaration and 10 year to the end of the attainment of the Sustainable
Development Goals, gender equality has recorded little growth, most women and
girls experience multiple forms of violence at home and in the public sphere.”
She’s lamented that, “underaged and forced marriages are
still rampant in our nation, trafficking of women and girls for sexual and
other types of exploitation’s are still prevalent.
“Women still have fewer choices of work and are still paid
less than their male counterparts. Female representation as agricultural
landlords is still very low. Women are not allowed to achieve their full
potentials in political, boardroom and executive positions.”
She advised that, “it is incumbent on all Nigerians to work
assiduously to ensure that women and children are free from all forms of
violence and are placed on a pedestal to attain their full potentials by
joining the campaign #EachForEqual.”
The Senate, in its resolutions, while celebrating Nigerian
women and girls, urged registered political parties in the country to make it a
policy to give women equal opportunities in all elective and appointive
positions.
The upper chamber also urged employers of Labour and
Corporate Organizations to give women equal opportunities to allow women
achieve their true potentials.
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