Feminist wants legal, structural reforms for improved women participation in leadership

The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) on Tuesday called for legal and structural
reforms to reflect and enforce improved women participation in politics and representation into decision-making offices.

The Focal Person of NFF, Miss Chinonso Okechukwu, made the call during the forum’s zonal conference in Lagos with
the theme “Legal Reform and Women’s Participation in Political Leadership in Nigeria”.

Okechukwu said that the reform was aimed at achieving the mandated 30 per cent affirmation as enshrined in the Beijing 1995 declaration for women political empowerment or even the 35 per cent National Gender Policy (NGP).

The declaration requires governments, international organisations and civil society groups to take a range of actions to enhance women’s political emancipation.

She stated that women play great roles in societies, communities and homes, noting that there was need for them to be
adequately represented in many areas and leading positions, whether in elected offices, civil service, the private sector or the academia.

She emphasised the need to break barriers to women’s emancipation through laws and institutions, as well as some cultural barriers.

She added that “women constitute over half of the world’s population and contribute in vital ways to societal development generally, assuming key roles as mothers, producers, home-managers, community organisers, socio-cultural and political activists.

“Under international standards, both men and women should have equal rights and opportunities to everything worldwide, most especially to participate fully in all aspects and at all levels of political processes.

“In spite of the major roles they play, women are yet to be given adequate recognition due to cultural stereotypes, abuse of religion, traditional practices and societal structures.”

Okechukwu recommended that political parties should create a support network for prospective aspirants by pairing them with established women politicians to play key roles as mentors and to provide capacity building for young or aspiring female politicians.

She called for the creation of an enabling environment that would allow women to engage meaningfully in decision making process in a sustainable and effective way free from violence and harassments of any kind.

She also called for the establishment of a legal fund to assist women politicians and introduce quota system at all levels of government to assist the female gender to achieve their goals.