Busuyi Ogidiolu
The Federation of International Women Lawyers known as FIDA, has encouraged Traditional Institutions to act as agents of change, through shared knowledge of local realities to always prevent violation of women and girls rights.
In a key note address in Ado Ekiti during an “Annual Dialogue with Ekiti State Council of Traditional Leaders on Preventing Violence against Women and Girls” by the FIDA Country’s Vice President, Mrs Aminat Agbaje, the advocacy was precipitated by subjugation of women’s rights and escalation of violence against them.
Mrs Agbaje whose messages was delivered by the State FIDA Chairperson, Mrs Oyinade Olatunbosun noted that the programme organized with the support of Ford Foundation was also aimed at kicking against violation of women’s rights in the area of mental, physical integrity, freedom of Movement, among others.
According to the FIDA boss, the patriarch nature of the African society and Gender Stereotype had made men to be socially superior to women as well as gave them power to assert authority over women, hence the need to put an end to the trend to engender a suitable society for everyone.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the Traditional belief in Nigeria which imposed economic barriers on women because their Gender resources was being controlled.
“The intervention is conceptualized towards enhancing the engagement of traditional institution by institutionalising gender based violence prevention structures which includes dialogue and improving coordination among community leaders in utilising locally led solution in preventing violence against women and girls. Mrs Agbaje added.
In her remarks the FIDA project Team Leader in Abuja, Mrs Rita Lasoju said the harmful effects of violation of women’s rights was enormous, noting that there is need for government and traditional institution to create platform for safer communities for women and girls through positive attitudinal change.
Earlier, the Programme Coordinator FIDA Nigeria in Abuja, Mr Fikih Obaro, observed that the traditional institution has important roles to play in the stoppage of violence against women due to the fact that they are influential and occupy respected community positions.
He itemized some of the violence against women and girls to include Gender Based Violence, Female Genitals Mutilation, wife battery, Hawking of goods among others, saying that there was need for action plan to nip the manace in the bud.
Participants at the programme who are majorly Traditional chieftaincy Title Holders including Chief Ismaila Kareem and Chief Yemisi Eyinafe noted that there were structures within their various communities which would help to correct the wrongs as government must also collaborate to play its roles in providing a friendly environment for Women and Girls.
