Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the International Federation of Women Lawyers -FIDA, Kaduna State branch has undertaken capacity building workshop for accredited observers to monitor document and report violence against women on election days.
The National President of FIDA, Mrs Amina Agbaje said that the training was essential to prevent and respond to election violence perpetrated against women before, during, and after the 2023 election.
According to her, women around the globe share a common feature of marginalization and their participation in politics has continued to be minimal because most often they are afraid of coming out to exercise their civic responsibility.
Mrs Amina Agbaje explained that the capacity workshop is been implemented across four focal states in the country :Kwara, Borno, Plateau and Kaduna
‘women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes in Nigeria but their level of political participation is increasingly very poor.current statistics of women in parliament in Nigeria confirm that their representation was 9%in 2007,7% in 2011,5% in 2015 and less than 10% in 9th National Assembly’,she explained
She stressed the need for advancing women participation in the twenty twenty three general elections through effective mobilization and a user friendly environment.
‘eradication of political violence is key in advancing women participation as it is of paramount importance to condense political violence before and after elections so that Women can fully participate in elections ‘,she narrated
The National President said they were accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission to observe and report incidence which outcome will lead to mass participation of women at the polls.
In a remark, the lead presenter who is the Program officer FIDA Nigeria Mr Abu Ayuba explained that those trained are expected to give on the ground information to their Situation Room on election days over issues relating to violence against women.
Over twenty lawyers from across the state participated in the capacity building workshop exercise.
Teddy Daniel
