2023: Why we are building capacity of security personnel – FIDA

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has trained NSCDC personnel on response to violence against women in Plateau State.

Also, staff of the Plateau Peace Building Agency are participating in the aforementioned training.

While declaring the workshop open, gt National President, FIDA, Mrs Amina Agbaje, represented by Plateau State chairperson, FIDA, Mrs Obioma Achilefu, said that the workshop seeks to harp on the protection of women before, during and after elections.

Adding that the capacity building workshop was very critical to women’s active participation in the political processes.

She said, “Recognizable, eradication of political violence is key in advancing women political participation as it is of paramount importance to condense political violence before and after elections.

“This is so that women can fully participate in elections.

“The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in laying credence to this fact have clearly recognized that, elections have triggered outbreak of violence.

“Which has seen women and girls victimized which has made women a tool of political harassment and violence before during and after elections.

“This has made female voters continue to be disproportionately affected by various forms of election related violence or threats which has the effect of keeping them away from the polling stations more than male voters.

“It is on this premise that this workshop is being organised towards improving the participation of women through the mitigation of violence perpetrated against women on the 2023 general elections.

Agbaje maintained that women shared a common feature of marginalisation in the sphere of public life, and their participation and representation in political life continues to be minimal.

She observed that the low women participation in Nigeria’s electoral process has limited their contribution in “decision making and democratic growth” in the country.

In his goodwill message, State Commandant, NSCDC, Alexander Barunde, said that violence against women was deep rooted in patriarchal culture of African nations.

Barunde who was represented by the Gender Desk Officer, NSCDC, in the State, Victoria James, said the culture has put women at a disadvantaged position, which calls for urgent solutions that would lead to national development.

According to him, aside the potentials women have, they constitute a large number of the voting population which if well utilised could make Nigeria great again.

He added that the workshop would help the corp to achieve a significantly peaceful election which would promote relatively high improvement in women participation.

In his remarks, the Director General of Plateau Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, represented the team lead Gender and Youths, Monica Buenkwap described the training as “apt” towards providing the framework for peaceful general elections in the state.

He commended FIDA for working assiduously in the protection of women, children and people with disabilities, and noted that the capacity building workshop will encourage women to exercise their franchise in the next election.

Lengmang noted that women constitute the most voting population during elections and said they need to be guaranteed of their safety to enable them come out to vote.

The National Officer of International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Nigeria Rita Lasoju gave an overview of the project and said they are partnering with security agencies to give women protection during the 2023 elections.

She said FIDA is working with necessary stakeholders such as the NSCD, Police, INEC and peace building agencies to ensure that women are protected during election.

She explained that the project is going on in four states of Borno, Kwara, Kaduna and Plateau State and it will wine up after the 2023 elections.

Also speaking, a FIDA National Officer, Mrs Rita Lasoju in a presentation indicated that data shows that women rates of participation in formal decision making remain one of the lowest in Nigeria and across the world.

Lasoju stated that the abysmal number of women in elective positions at both the national and subnational levels has hampered development across sections in the country.

She regretted that using 2015 figures, there were only 4 women deputy Governors and few who occupy the parliament and state Houses of Assembly in the country.

DSC Sabo Mathias, a participant at the workshop said, the capacity building would equip them in identifying and tackling security challenges that would affect the participation of women before, during and after the elections.

According to him, the Corps has mapped out techniques to protect women and other vulnerable groups against acts that would affect them.

AFRIPOST reports that the project which is funded by UN Women and the Government of Canada, has the theme: Capacity Building Workshop for Law Enforcement Agencies on Prevention and Response to Violence Against Women in Elections, Gender and Disability Protection Approach.