International Federation of women Lawyers-FIDA has presented a survey assessment report to Security Agencies and Kaduna State Peace Commission on violence against women during elections.
Presenting the report, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Federation Aisha Abdu Muhammad explained that about five hundred people’s opinion across eighteen local government areas of the state were sampled.
Aisha Abdu Muhammad said the intention was to assist relevant stakeholders with the needed information that will help mitigate any form of violence against women during and after the forthcoming elections.
She stressed that women have continued to be at the recieving end of election violence hence the need for concerted effort to create a more friendly environment for women to participate fully without any form of intimidation.
‘the survey report undertook an assessment of the security environment on the 2023 general elections by exploring the prospect or otherwise of peaceful elections that can promote women participation which revealed that there was a below average expectation of peaceful elections in kaduna state’, she said
The report listed inter-ethnic religious communal conflict, kidnapping and banditry incidences, actions of some security agencies ,party thuggery, hate speech among others as threat and violence triggers against women during election.
It therefore recommend that INEC, Political Parties, Mass Media,CSO should intensify citizens sensitization on the need to eschew violence of any kind during and after elections.
The report also recommends enforcement of penalities to culprit found to have broken,manipulate or infringe on anyone’s right to serve as deterrent.
It appeal for more inter agency collaboration by INEC at all levels while calling for professionalism by security agencies, continues training and welfare of staff among others.
In their separate remarks, Kaduna State Commander Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the State Police Public Relation Officer and Permanent Commissioner Kaduna State Peace Commissioner, Mr Yahaya Adah,DSP Muhammad Jalige and Mrs Rebecca Sako John respectively expressed readiness for collaboration and ensuring that issues raised in the report are given the needed attention.
They highlighted that their organization is training their men and meeting with relevant stakeholders with commitment from some quota, by signing Memorandum of understanding geared towards complimenting INEC role for a hitch free 2023 general elections .
Teddy Daniel