Author: FIDA

by FIDA

ADVOCACY FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE VAPP ACT AND ITS EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION – THE VOICE PROJECT

The project titled, Advocacy for the adoption of the VAPP Act, 2015 in Rivers State, its effective implementation in Abuja and Lagos State under the Voice Influencing Grant commenced in September, 2017 and aims at promoting the adoption of the VAPP Act in Rivers state, popularizing its provisions in Abuja and Lagos State for effective implementation. The project is supervised by OXFAM Nigeria

Under the project, FIDA Nigeria hosted a National Stakeholder’s Workshop in Abuja to create more awareness on the need for the effective implementation of the VAPP Act 2015.

The stakeholders Workshop ended with a communiqué with an eight-point recommendation; 

a. The issue of poor funding especially the budgetary allocation of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other related matters (NAPTIP) which is the body responsible by the provision of the Act for the monitoring the punishment of offenders of this Law.  

b. The need for the provision of shelters at every major town of a State for survivors of violent acts. 

 c. The need for increased sensitization of citizens on the innovative provisions of the Act by collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. 

d. The amendment of the VAPP Act to address the lacuna highlighted above. 

e. The need for all States House of Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to adopt the VAPP Act.

f. The need for orientation to change the mindset of citizens especially as it relates to the culture of silence and stigmatization of survivors and victims. 

g. Provision of adequate infrastructure for all sectors involved in the implementation of the Act. 

h. The need for proper enlightenment and sensitization of the NIGERIA Police force to effectively carry out their roles as provided by the Act.

by FIDA

International Women’s Day 2019

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate International Women’s Day 2019. As an organisation with a mandate to promote, protect and preserve the rights of women and children in Nigeria, March 8th is always a special day for us. We proudly add our voice to celebrate women’s contributions to their home, work, society and the world at large.

According to unwomen.org the theme for this year is “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”. This years theme is focused on the innovative ways we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure. The achievement of the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires transformative shifts, integrated approaches and new solutions, particularly when it comes to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

FIDA Nigeria celebrates our great and courageous women achievers at all levels, who against all odds are breaking chains, pushing boundaries, climbing ladders and standing tall in all sectors of society. These women through their doggedness, perseverance and sheer determination are helping to close the gap in and promoting gender parity while facilitating in building a gender balanced world. We salute you and encourage others to rise up and emulate you. We celebrate women who have seized the moment and are creating pathways to enable better balancing …great mentors, great persons of influence touching lives and impacting positively. More women are participating in the political process, vying for and taking up appointments and key positions of leadership, however a very small percentage are given the opportunity to succeed in the very rough terrain.

Women as professionals are also breaking several glass ceilings, progressing in different business and operating seamlessly in the ‘man’s world’, determined not to be held down by stereotyping, absolutely courageous and independent geared towards breaking the set moulds and challenging the ancient systems. It is also now more common to see in society a higher percentage of women being bread winners, economically buoyant, owning great businesses. Yet, economic freedom is not enjoyed by all, as so many still suffer economic abuse, many still can’t culturally own land or property, many still suffer from the infringement of their inheritance rights and the education of the girl child is still a challenge.

When it comes to the legal profession, this years theme has encouraged us as female lawyers to reflect inwards. FIDA acknowledges that though we have achieved a lot in the fight to protect, promote and preserve the rights of women and children, we still have a long way to go. The judiciary is a compass of society and there needs to be more of a move towards upholding women’s rights.
Gender law is not yet mainstream in legal practice. Lawyers and the judiciary are encouraged to make a conscious effort to adjudicate and decide cases from a rights perspective.

Another issue, is the gender disparity in the leadership of the legal profession. The legal profession requires significant research and analysis and women who are typically the home makers, often find it difficult to find a happy balance and practice law because of these factors. FIDA Nigeria is proposing that one way we can innovate for change in the legal sector is to take a more digital approach to the practice of law in Nigeria. If we take a more technological approach to legal practice in Nigeria, the ease and speed of working will be increased and more women will be able to take advantage of it and attain higher positions. With more legal technology, more people would be able to work digitally and we would be able to reform the 8.00am to 8.00pm work hours, which most law firms in Nigeria are indirectly operating.

The legal profession in Nigeria must realise that technology and process are now just as important as legal expertise in the delivery of legal services. The legal sector must begin to think equal and innovate for change. Clients now want to be able to report their cases virtually or request their legal agreements virtually. It also saves them the time and energy. Case law and Statute can also be made more easily accessible if they are moved online. FIDA Nigeria is looking to make this digital move and develop a web application through which women and children can report their cases of abuse and violation and access FIDANs and FIDA partner contacts. This app is part of our efforts to “think equal, build smart and innovate for change” and so if you would like to get involved please contact us.

FIDA Nigeria calls for a greater gender balance, all round, at all levels and in all its ramifications. This is absolutely necessary because of the great benefits that will accrue to our communities and our nation. A balance will be for the better because where everyone is carried along, given equal opportunities, rights and benefits, peace and social justice will reign and consequently, we get a productive and progressive nation where everyone is opportune, without discrimination, to play any key roles they desire based on their strengths and merit.

We encourage the men to support gender parity. We need more #HeForShe champions to be our allies, collaborate with us as advocates for and champions for change as we seek to strike the gender balance. We need more progressive mindsets for inclusiveness.

We call on all to be great watchmen. Where there are lapses or any absence of balance, speak out, point it out and take progressive steps to balance it out.

FIDA Nigeria wishes women in Nigeria and all over the world a happy International Women’s Day and encourages all to #ThinkEqual #BuildSmart #InnovateForChange

Signed,
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden
Country Vice President/National President

Eliana Martins
National Publicity Secretary

by FIDA

FIDA Nigeria statement in support of the #ArewaMeToo Initiative

Over the past few weeks the #ArewaMeToo movement has been gaining momentum on social media, with numerous women from Northern Nigeria, coming out to share their stories of sexual violence, child molestation and domestic violence. The Arewa women have taken a cue from the #MeToo movement which began in America and the #HearMeToo campaign which started during the 2018 16 days of activism against gender based violence and turned to naming and shaming as a form of justice.

An underlying theme of the movement is the need to highlight the negative cultural and religious barriers that have oppressed abused women into staying silent and not holding their perpetrators accountable. The #ArewaMeToo movement is looking to break the culture of silence which notoriously surrounds cases of sexual and gender based violence. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence often do not seek help for fear of stigma by both their community and law enforcement officers who are supposed to provide the support base.

FIDA Nigeria is in support of movements like these which challenge the negative cultures that allow abuse to remain rampant in society. As such we were shocked to hear that one of the most notable campaigners of the #ArewaMeToo movement, Maryam Awaisu was arrested yesterday for undisclosed reasons. Though she was released after a few hours, it can be argued that such a move further intimidates and discourages women from speaking up about the violations they have faced. Furthermore, it discourages activists from getting involved with such cases. Human rights activists should not be deterred by any such challenge obstructing this our nobel mission, and must all remain focussed on the goal. We cannot allow violators of women and children’s rights to continue to go unchecked. We must work to see that justice is being done.

Despite the availability of legislations like the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) [VAPP] Act which criminalises the various forms of violence, Nigeria still has an underwhelming rate of conviction when it comes to perpetrators. As such, it is ridiculous that it is the woman working on behalf of survivors that will be subject to the wrath of law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers must not be misguided and must rise up to defend it’s citizens and protect their fundamental human rights. Gender based violence cases are peculiar because they are so underreported and under prosecuted that there is an extra burden on the officers handling these cases to take a more victim centred approach.

FIDA Nigeria remains committed to protecting, promoting and preserving the rights of woman and children and so proudly lends her support to the #ArewaMeToo movement and encourages more women to speak up and break the culture of silence that has gone on for too long. FIDA applauds and supports the progressive initiative which encourages northern women to speak out and not be deterred by culture or religion; which stops the shaming culture and give backbone to victims.

Furthermore, FIDA Nigeria is adding her voice to the calls for proper legal investigation of ALL allegations that have come out of the #ArewaMeToo movement, so that perpetuators are brought to book in accordance with the law while victims are protected and compensated. We use this opportunity to urge all states which are yet to domesticate the VAPP Act to do so forthwith because of it’s advantages which include – the broad definition of ‘violence’ covering physical, psychological, sexual, harmful traditional practices, socio and economic violence in both public and private places, increased penalties and the provision of protection and compensation for victims.

Nigeria is a signatory to and is bound by the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and in the CEDAW General Recommendation 19, the UN has outlined that “Gender-based violence is a form of discrimination that seriously inhibits women’s ability to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men.” As such the Nigerian government must be proactive in ensuring that Gender Based Violence is curbed in society.

#SpeakOut
#ProtectActivists
#StopTheCultureOfSilence
#StopAllFormsOfViolence
#ProsecuteAndPunishOffenders
#ProtectAndCompensateVictims
#DomesticateTheVAPPAct

Signed,
Rhoda Prevail Tyoden
Country Vice President/National President

Eliana Martins
National Publicity Secretary