Group calls for end to gender-based discrimination against women

By Deborah Akpede

Mrs Bose Ironsi, the Executive Director, Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), an NGO, has called for zero discrimination against women in governance and politics.

Ironsi, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, said Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights, more like discriminating against women.

“Both men and women experience GBV but the majority of victims are women and the men are most often the perpetrators.

“The unequal status of men and women is the primary cause of GBV, the money and internal party politics are not giving women enough power to play.

“Women are interested in politics and governance but they are not given enough chance, even, the way Nigeria politics is played, shows that it is not a place of women.

“With the way politicians constantly make people to be poor, also, how many women will be able to afford the kind of money the politicians are spending on votes?,” she said.

Ironsi said that Gender Equality Bill has been suffering a setback because of cultural belief system that women should not be seen or heard.

“The political space is dominated by men, women have been intimidated and disadvantage and there are lot of inequality.

“It is only a woman that will be asked if she is married or in condition with her husband, nobody asked a man whether he is a good man to his wife.

“I don’t know who is afraid of women, what is the fear about.

“We are quick to be very happy when we see Nigerian women doing exploits in other countries, why not create the environment here for them to do well,” she said.

According to Ironsi, gender equality is the solution to GBV.

“Women are born the same way like the men; they have brains just like the men.

“Both should have the same equal right, treatment and opportunity to contribute to the development of the communities, states and the nation/

“We will not give up, we are not going to leave the space for only the men, we will restrategised to ensure that we are seriously engaged,,” she said.

She urged government and politicians to give women seats at the table so as to contribute their quota to the development of the nation.

“Include women in decision-making and give support by zoning some leadership roles to them,” she said.

(NAN)