PROTOCOL.
I am delighted to
deliver an address at this event on International Conference titled “Harnessing
and Promoting Women’s Leadership to overcome the Covid-19 Pandemic and Achieve
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030” in commemoration of year 2021
International Women’s Day (IWD).
2. As
you are aware 8th March each year is celebrated worldwide as
the International Women’s Day. It is a global day set aside to celebrate the
social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women in all works of
life. The day also marks a call to action for the promotion of gender parity.
The theme for 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration is “Women in
Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Covid-19 World”.
3. The
purpose of celebrating this day is to acknowledge the contribution of women to
the strengthening of international peace and to recognize that the
participation, development and equality of women is essential for the
attainment of social progress and the full enjoyments of human rights. In
Nigeria, the day has been used over the year as a platform for harnessing
efforts on behalf of women’s development not only at the federal level but also
at the state levels. Several activities are usually planned at the Federal
level to mark the celebration ultimately aimed at integrating women and girls into
the mainstream of national development. It is no longer news that women and
girls are disproportionately and differentially affected by the pandemic,
whether as frontline health care workers or as victims of increasing levels of
gender-based violence amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
4. I
commend Afrihealth Optonet Association for choosing this day 4thMarch,
2021 to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day. The 2021 theme was
carefully chosen to meet the social, economic, cultural, health, and political
challenges faced by women. I equally commend you for putting our women and
girls as priority in your programme, and I want to assure you that every good
work has its own rewards.
5. At
the2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, women are recognized as a key
enabler of each of the development goals. Women are being used as tool for
peace, unity and development, and are being accorded with huge support bearing
in mind that they are the most vulnerable group in our society.
6. On
this note, may I appeal to everyone to desist from any action that will lead to
violence against women and girls (VAWG) which has increased in the society due
to Covid-19 Pandemic. You can agree with me, that a lot of women and girls
suffered several cases of abuse in the face of the Covid-19
Pandemic. You will recall that we witness an upsurge in GBV cases in
the lockdown measures put in place by the Government to flatten the curve of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Before
I conclude permit me to inform this gathering that the Ministry has made
progress towards controlling SGBV and others in the following areas:
I The
launched of the National GBV Data collation Tool, the first of its kind, to
ease the dearth of GBV data in the country, with directives that every partner
and stakeholders should use the tool to collate and submit GBV data to the
Ministry for effective coordination and planning.
II The
Ministry has presented a memo to Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday,
10th June 2020 on the unaccepted trends and patterns and surge
in Rape and other forms of Gender Based violence in the country. The outcome of
this Memo led to the following:
a. Directives
by Mr. President to the Attorney-General/Minister to immediately inaugurate an
Inter-Ministerial Gender Based Violence Management Committee to proffer a
synchronized approach to address all forms of violence against women and
children in the country. This you are aware has been inaugurated on 23rd July
2020.
b. Directives
to Inspector General of police to deal with al perpetrators in furtherance of
the declaration of zero tolerance to rape and other Gender-Based Violence, as
well as constant engagement with the Police on the need to promptly address issues
of Gender-Based Violence.
8. In
order to ensure that current gender issues are addressed under this present
administration, the Government of Nigeria is set to provide every support and
resources needed in the dissemination and implementation of just concluded
Revised National Gender Policy as well as support the passage of Gender and
Equal Opportunity Bill as a means to further enhance women’s equal access to
economic activities and resources. It is our resolve that we will create a
nation that is devoid of gender discrimination where everyone can contribute
their quota to national development.
9. As
you stated previously in your communiqué that there should be a declaration of
‘war crime,’ any gender-based violence and violence against women and girls
orchestrated during wars and inter-communal conflicts, thus making it
punishable under current international laws on war crimes. Secondly, your
organization affirmed the signing of the ‘Every Woman Treaty’ as a necessary
next step in ending VAWG globally.
10. May I use
this avenue to inform you of the need to change some of our culture and
traditional practices which could be harmful to our Women and Girls for a
better development and for everyone to be the agents of transformation, with
which this country can be transformed into a new haven.
11. The success
of women in Nigeria is an inspiration to younger women to look beyond the
status-quo and explore other areas of their lives as opposed to limiting their
horizon. Therefore, the theme chosen by the organizers of this event and the UN
women’s theme for this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration is
the right step taken in the right direction.
13. On this
note, I wish everyone happy celebration and happy women’s day.
14 Thank you all for listening.
HONOURABLE MINISTER, FEDERAL MINISTRY
OF WOMEN AFFAIR, ABUJA.
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