by FIDACall for Expression of Interest To Develop A Violence Against Women In Elections Assessment Report
Introduction
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of over 4,000 female lawyers with several years’ experience in utilizing the law to address social problems in Nigeria. The organization’s mandate is the enhancement, promotion, protection and preservation of the rights and welfare of women and children in Nigeria. FIDA Nigeria implements key projects and activities aimed at providing access to justice to indigent persons, particularly women and children.
Background
Women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian women signaled their intention to make their voices heard in the 2019 election, accounting for about 47.14 per cent (39,598,645 million) of the 84,004.084 million registered voters nationwide. In 2015, three million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, and seventy-six (3,667,076) housewives voted in the presidential election, placing next to students (4,480,708) and civil servants (4,628,433). Similarly, housewives rank third on the list of registered voters by group in the 2019 election. They represented 14.10 per cent of the total registered voters by group, next to farmers/fishers (16.23 per cent) and students (26.57 per cent). This figure does not include the millions of women across the various other groups
However, inspite of this progress recorded, Women’s participation in the elective positions has been minimal and has multi-dimensional implications for the democratic project in Nigeria and for the continuing quest for gender equality in Africa’s biggest economy. The 2019 elections was the sixth consecutive general elections since the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999. This marks what is undoubtedly a measure of democratic progress, if only for conducting periodic elections since the return to civil rule. What remains deeply in doubt, however, is how inclusive this progress has been and, in particular, to what extent women have benefited from the democratic dividend of equality and fairness. With gender issues and women’s political and economic empowerment taking center stage on the global arena, Nigeria appears intent on maintaining its position at the bottom of the ladder of women’s political empowerment. Recent data indicates that women’s rates of participation in formal decision making remain one of the lowest on the continent and across the world with women occupying an abysmal 5.6 per cent (86 out of 1534) of all elective positions at both the national and subnational levels.
Essential to women participation is the eradication of political violence, in other words, it is of paramount importance to condense political violence before and after elections so that women can fully participate in elections. In the same degree The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) states that, elections have triggered outbreaks of violence in which women and girls were victimized. In others instances violence against women has been a tool of political harassment and intimidation of female election candidates. In addition, female voters continue to be disproportionately affected by various forms of election-related violence or threats of violence which has the effect of keeping them away from the polling stations more than male voters.
Purpose of Consultancy
As the countdown to 2023 General Elections emerges, The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria with support from UNWomen will undertake an assessment of all forms of violence perpetrated against women ahead of the 2023 General Elections which may deter the participation of women. This assessment through the deployment of a standardized field instrument known as the VAWE tool to measure safety and security threats against women pre and post elections will be conducted across four focal states namely Kwara (North Central), Borno (North East), Plateau (North Central) and Kaduna (North West). Based on the above, FIDA Nigeria is seeking to engage a consultant to analyse the findings from this survey and develop a VAWE assessment report for each of the four focal states which will be used as an advocacy tool to existent peace-building architectures in the focal states towards creating a peaceful environment to enable women participation in the general elections and serve as a catalyst towards providing enabling strategies for advanced women political participation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be tasked to analyse the findings generated from the field work and develop a VAWE Assessment report for each focal state which will be used to support peace building architectures.
Review and Validation of the Report
In collaboration with the Project Team, the Programme Manager shall review and validate all contents of the report. The report developed must be delivered to the National Programme Manager on a date not later than the deadline for submission via email on fidanigeria@yahoo.com.
Requirements
The applicant should be a national or international educational, research, think-tank, NGO or any relevant organization with the required expertise
Duration
The assignment is for a period of four weeks from the date of
signing the contract.
Fees
The fees for this assignment is subject to negotiation with the selected individual.
How to apply
Qualified candidates should send curriculum vitae and cover letter detailing relevant experiences to the addressed to the Country Vice-President/National President to hr@fida.org.ng or fidanigeria@yahoo.com
Subject of e-mail should be “Application for Consultancy to develop a training Manual”
Deadline: Applications should be submitted on or
before 15th November 2022.
by FIDAPublic Hearing by the House of Rep. Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development
FIDA Nigeria on 2nd November, 2022 attended the Public Hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development on;
1) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS (PROHIBITION) ACT, 2015 TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WIDOWS AND ALL FORMS OF REPRESSIVE AND DEGRADING WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES AND FOR RELATED MATTERS.
2) A BILL FOR AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE DEFINITION OF THE OFFENCE OF IMAGE BASED SEXUAL ABUSE UNDER THE ACT AND MAKE PROVISION FOR PENALTY FOR OFFENCE OF IMAGE BASED SEXUAL ABUSE: AND FOR RELATED MATTERS (HBs.1711 AND HB.1804).
FIDA Nigeria was ably represented by her National Legal Officers Mariam Omeiza Esq, Rahila Dauda Esq, and Jamila Babuba a staunch member of the FIDA Nigeria’s Parliamentary Committee.
At the event, Ms. Omeiza made the presentation on behalf of FIDA Nigeria and elaborated our observations and submissions. She further appreciated the House Committee on its efforts to bring the VAPP Act 2015 up to date with the current realities such as image-based abuse and the persistent harmful practices against widows; she assured them of FIDA Nigeria’s continual support.
The members of the Committee Chaired by Hon. (Otunba) Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga appreciated FIDA Nigeria’s contributions and promised to look into the submissions made.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Methodology Workshop on the Review of a Draft Tool Aimed at Increasing Women’s Political Participation
FIDA Nigeria recognizing the disproportionate impact of election-related violence on women and girls before during and after elections thus negatively influencing their participation in electioneering processes, as part of efforts towards addressing this malaise on the 31st of October 2022, held a methodology workshop.
The workshop was aimed at improving the participation of women in the general elections by strengthening the capacity of selected networks, institutions, electoral bodies, and oversight mechanisms to better prevent and respond to violence against women in elections, Sexual & Gender-Based Violence, and other forms of Violence against women ” that may deter female electorates through the development and analytical review of the draft tool.
Also, at the workshop was the presentation & review of the 2022 Osun Governorship Elections report developed by FIDA Nigeria. Discussions were held on the content of the report pertaining participation of women & persons with disabilities which will serve as a catalyst towards providing enabling strategies for women’s participation in the 2023 General Elections.
by FIDAPublic Hearing on A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ACT, CAP.N15
FIDA Nigeria on the 20th of October 2022 was at the Public Hearing on A BILL FOR AN ACT TO AMEND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ACT, CAP.N15 conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
FIDA Nigeria presented her memo commending the committee for this laudable move in renaming the National Centre for Women Development to “Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development”. As a former First Lady of the Nation, Maryam Babangida was indeed a trailblazer in the Women’s rights movement and emancipation, and as such had carved a niche for herself in that regard.
She spearheaded the establishment of the Centre for Women Development and it will not be out of place to have same-named after her person in appreciation of her numerous contributions towards national development and gender parity. The members of the committee on Women Affairs and Social Development led by Hon. (Otunba) Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga appreciated FIDA Nigeria’s contributions and promised to look into it as the bill progresses.
FIDA Nigeria was ably represented by her Legal officers Mariam Omeiza Esq and Rahila Dauda Esq.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Stakeholders Forum On The Status of the Gender Responsive Bills
FIDA Nigeria on the 13th of October 2022, held a one One-Day Stakeholders forum on the status of the gender-responsive bills before the National Assembly & the Electoral Act 2022 with regards to Women & Persons with Disabilities’ Participation in the 2023 general elections, under the WE-YOU Project with the support of Action Aid Nigeria.
Participants at the event include donor partners, members of the national assembly, civil society organizations working on women, youth, disability inclusion and technology and the media.
by FIDAInternational Day of the Girl-Child 2022 “Our Time is Now-Our Rights, Our Future”
In commemorating this year’s UN Day of the Girl-Child, FIDA Nigeria aligns with the assertion of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who posited as follows:
“We need to uphold the equal rights, voices and influence of girls in our families, communities and nations. Girls can be powerful agents of change, and nothing should keep them from participating fully in all areas of life.”
To be born a girl-child in most parts of the world comes with its own disadvantages and difficulties which are increasingly faced by females in a world that is progressively biased towards the rights and future of the girl-child. This holds true particularly as it relates to the opportunities available to the girl-child, who appears to have the deck stacked against her and fewer chances to excel. One glaring constraint is the lack of access to affordable, inclusive, and qualitative education which is a basic right.
There has been increased attention and focus on issues that affect the girl-child, yet sadly this does not in reality translate to investments in the wellbeing and actualization of the rights of the girl-child, with women continually being victims of discrimination and under-represented in all spheres of the society, further made worse by the gradual increase in humanitarian crises around the world of which the female child is at worst risk.
In Nigeria alone, the issues of early marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, lack of educational opportunities, lack of funding, child-labor, trafficking, early pregnancy, poverty, illiteracy, harmful gender stereotypes, male gender preferences, insecurity, disabilities, discriminatory laws, ingrained socio-cultural and religious beliefs, economic and political discrimination, are some of the challenges faced by the girl-child, which are further exacerbated by patriarchy, making the girlchild truly “endangered” in all ramifications.
Closely related to the above is the issue of gender inequality and gender discrimination, which are huge social problems facing women all over the world, and a barrier to human development.
Despite the myriad challenges which have lifelong consequences for the girl-child and the society at large, the resourcefulness and resilience of the girl-child is unmatched, proving time and time again that given the right conditions, opportunities, impetus, the girl-child is a change-driver, changing the narrative towards a better world.
It is without doubt a truism that, when you train a woman you train a nation! Rapid Socio-economic development of a society has been observed to depend on the caliber of women and their education. Education being the cornerstone of all development and the starting point for success, bestows the disposition for the acquisition of knowledge, competence and skills. It increases one’s involvement and participation in the political space while contributing effectively to societal growth and governance.
The importance of girl-child education cannot be over-emphasized as every child deserves to be educated irrespective of gender, religion or disability being a basic human right as recognized by the 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is time to further galvanize, spur and engage stakeholders all over the world; government officials, policymakers, other change drivers, to deeply amplify our voices toward providing a fertile, conducive and safe environment devoid of discrimination and filled with opportunities for the girl-child to thrive effectively and achieve her fullest potential.
FIDA Nigeria in addition to the above, also calls for the adoption of non -policy measures i.e change in attitude and perception about gender roles, public enlightenment and sensitization on implication and ills of gender stereotyping and discriminatory practices.
Let us join hands to ensure that the girl-child thrives as she sets to fulfill her potential and take on the world given the right boost, enabling environment, and the platform to make that change. Indeed, our time is Now! Our rights, Our Future!
#FIDANigeria #IntlDayoftheGirlChild2022 #OurTimeisNow #OurRightsOurFuture #GirlChild #womensrightsarehumanrights #genderparity
Truly Yours,
Amina Suzanah Agbaje, Mrs.
Country Vice President/CVP
FIDA Nigeria
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Capacity-Building Workshops on Monitoring, Evaluation, Documentation, and Learning Approaches on SGBV & CEFM
FIDA Nigeria with support from SCALE on the 19th of September 2022, held a 3-day capacity-building workshop on monitoring, evaluation, documentation, and learning approaches on SGBV & CEFM Prevention and Response in Nigeria for civil society organizations in Southern and Northern Nigeria. Thirty-six (36) beneficiaries drawn from civil society organizations (inclusive of SCALE advocacy clusters) attended the workshops.
The workshop was organized with the intention of developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, enhancing advocacy and communication skills for improved learning for participating organizations across the project states.
It is expected that following the enhanced capacities from the workshops, civil society organizations would be better equipped to document their successes, track progress in their various interventions at the state and local level as well scale up their capacities towards improved adoption of monitoring and evaluation strategies for development interventions through an M&E strategic framework towards an improved documentation process amongst other things.
by FIDAFIDA Holds DFATD Supported Project Inception Meeting
FIDA Nigeria, Plateau State Branch with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada (“DFATD'”), following the flag off of the project on Promoting the Inclusion of Women in Peace Building and Conflict Mitigation Across Communities in Plateau State held an inception meeting.
The meeting which was held on the 4th and 6th of September in Kwok Community, Barkin Ladi LGA and Ta-Hoss Community, Riyom LGA of the state availed stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the prevalence of conflict across the respective communities.
FIDA Nigeria was further able to obtain stakeholders commitment and buy-in on the objectives and goals of the project at the meeting
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria Invites Application for a Consultant
Call For Expression of Interest to Develop A Training Manual For Law Enforcement Agencies On Prevention And Response To Violence Against Women During Elections, Gender And Disability Protection Approach In Policing Elections.
Introduction
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of over 4,000 female lawyers with several years’ experience in utilizing the law to address social problems in Nigeria. The organization’s mandate is the enhancement, promotion, protection and preservation of the rights and welfare of women and children in Nigeria. FIDA Nigeria implements key projects and activities aimed at providing access to justice to indigent persons, particularly women and children.
Background
Women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian women signaled their intention to make their voices heard in the 2019 election, accounting for about 47.14 per cent (39,598,645 million) of the 84,004.084 million registered voters nationwide. In 2015, three million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, and seventy-six (3,667,076) housewives voted in the presidential election, placing next to students (4,480,708) and civil servants (4,628,433). Similarly, housewives rank third on the list of registered voters by group in the 2019 election. They represented 14.10 per cent of the total registered voters by group, next to farmers/fishers (16.23 per cent) and students (26.57 per cent). This figure does not include the millions of women across the various other groups
However, inspite of this progress recorded, Women’s participation in the elective positions has been minimal and has multi-dimensional implications for the democratic project in Nigeria and for the continuing quest for gender equality in Africa’s biggest economy. The 2019 elections was the sixth consecutive general elections since the beginning of the fourth republic in 1999. This marks what is undoubtedly a measure of democratic progress, if only for conducting periodic elections since the return to civil rule. What remains deeply in doubt, however, is how inclusive this progress has been and, in particular, to what extent women have benefited from the democratic dividend of equality and fairness. With gender issues and women’s political and economic empowerment taking center stage on the global arena, Nigeria appears intent on maintaining its position at the bottom of the ladder of women’s political empowerment. Recent data indicates that women’s rates of participation in formal decision making remain one of the lowest on the continent and across the world with women occupying an abysmal 5.6 per cent (86 out of 1534) of all elective positions at both the national and subnational levels.
The lack of inclusive participation of women and youth in the political affairs and governance is alarming. Women and youths who constitute a critical population are aloof or less involved in politics and governance. They are not also proactively demanding for accountability from the government and governmental actors. Participation of the majority of the youths and women in politics and electioneering takes the form of vote buying & selling during elections. The monetization of the electoral process makes it very expensive and difficult for credible persons in the communities, particularly women & youths to aspire for political party offices and general elective positions.
Essential to women participation is the eradication of political violence, in other words, it is of paramount importance to condense political violence before and after elections so that women can fully participate in elections . In the same degree The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) states that, elections have triggered outbreaks of violence in which women and girls were victimized. In others instances violence against women has been a tool of political harassment and intimidation of female election candidates. In addition, female voters continue to be disproportionately affected by various forms of election-related violence or threats of violence which has the effect of keeping them away from the polling stations more than male voters.
Purpose of Consultancy
As the countdown to 2023 General Elections emerges, The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria with support from UNWomen will implement her intervention tilted toward improving women’s participation in Nigeria across four focal states namely Kwara (North Central), Borno (North East), Plateau (North Central) and Kaduna (North West). The project aims to mitigate violence against women in elections through a collaborative and systemic approach with Stakeholders such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, Security agencies, the Electoral institute and other credible organizations.
We will through our various interventionist approaches aim at improving the participation of women at the general elections by strengthening the capacity of selected networks, institutions, electoral bodies, and oversight mechanisms to better prevent and respond to VAWP, SGBV and other forms of VAW” that may deter female electorates towards exercising their franchise at the polls across the four project states of, Borno, Kwara, Kaduna, Plateau States. Based on the above, FIDA Nigeria is seeking to engage a consultant to develop a training manual on prevention and response to violence against women during elections, and gender and disability protection approach in policing elections for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be tasked to develop a comprehensive manual with the following tepical sessions: Introduction to VAWE (Violence against Women in Elections),Mapping and measuring VAWE—(Violence against Women in Elections),Violence against VAWE, Legal and Policy reform to prevent and respond to VAWE, Integrating VAWE into Election Observation/Violence, Monitoring, Preventing and Mitigating VAWE through electoral arrangements and disability &Social inclusivity in election security management
Review and Validation of the Training Manual
In collaboration with the Project Team, the Programme Manager shall review and validate all contents of the training manual. A proposed training manual outline and method for teaching each topic/chapter shall be submitted to fidanigeria@yahoo.com. The training materials developed must be delivered to the National Programme Manager on a date not later than the deadline for submission via email on fidanigeria@yahoo.com.
Requirements
The applicant should be a national or international educational, research, think-tank, NGO or any relevant organization with the expertise and reputation of developing training manuals in peace building and conflict resolution.
Duration
The assignment is for a period of five weeks from the date of signing the contract.
Fees
The fees for this assignment is subject to negotiation with the selected individual.
How to apply
Qualified candidates should send curriculum vitae and cover letter detailing relevant experiences to the addressed to the Country Vice-President/National President to hr@fida.org.ng or fidanigeria@yahoo.com
Subject of e-mail should be “Application for Consultancy to develop a training Manual”
Deadline: Applications should be submitted on or before 10th October 2022.
by FIDAWomen’s Rights Movement in Nigeria- A Step Closer to Gender Parity and Abolition of Gender Discrimination!
FIDA Nigeria, a vanguard in the quest for gender parity, joins millions of others to celebrate the commendable bold move of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who ended the denial of women inheritance that was prevalent among cultures in Rivers State, when he signed into law on Thursday, 15th September, 2022, the Rivers State Prohibition of the Curtailment of Women’s Right to Share in Family Property Law No. 2 of 2022.
The passage of this law by the Executive Governor of Rivers State is a clear testament to the tenacity and resoluteness of his administration to eradicate and prohibit the restrictions that abound in Rivers state which restrictions, abrogate or curtail the rights of women to share in family property, or make it a taboo for female children to inherit property.
This law is one which FIDA Nigeria has consistently advocated for its passage, all over the country being that it reinforces the truism that Women’s rights are indeed Human rights and as such, MUST be safeguarded and protected at all cost! The Importance of this law cannot be over-emphasized as it will enable women in Rivers state to effectively actualize their potentials, and allow them to inherit their entitlements while paving the way for discrimination to be challenged in court, riding on the back of the new Law.
Certainly, it is mind boggling and beyond reasonable contemplation that, in view of all the giant strides recorded by mankind in the 21st Century, women in parts of Nigeria are still being subjugated based solely on their gender, sometimes leading to outright denial of their rights which the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has already guaranteed.
It is sequel to the foregoing that, FIDA Nigeria in continuation of its commitment towards protecting, promoting and preserving the rights of indigent women and children, makes this Clarion call on all State Governors to emulate the exceedingly commendable step taken by the Executive Governor of Rivers State and ensure the passage of this law and similar other laws in their states, particularly for States that are yet to pass into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act; and the Child’s Rights Act, amongst others.
The above call by FIDA Nigeria extends to all stakeholders in the movement towards the eradication of bias and discrimination rooted in gender inequality. Together we can push for greater actualization for gender parity across all spheres of society as we remain resolute in ensuring a society free from all forms of gender-based discrimination.
#Womenrightsarehumanrights. #genderparity. #togetherwecan #FIDANigeria
Yours in service,
Amina Suzanah Agbaje
Country Vice President/CVP
FIDA Nigeria
