IMO JUDGE SEEKS MORE WOMEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

REPORTER: CHIZOBA OPARA

A judge in the Imo State High Court, Justice Alma Eluwa, has called for the implementation of a legal framework that will promote the safety and meaningful participation of women in peace building and conflict resolution processes in Nigeria.

Justice Eluwa made the call at the Women Summit in Owerri with the theme “women and security, reality, challenges, call to action.”

Highlighting the statistics from George Town University Institute for Women, Peace and Security in 2022, which revealed that Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, Congo and Myanmar recorded the highest rates of political violence against women, Justice Eluwa called for concerted effort to curb the situation.

According to the judge, women are severely affected by war and insecurity through vulnerability to gender based violence, rape and kidnapping, hence the need to involve them in promoting security issues.

Justice Eluwa maintained that continued relegation of women in security issues, peace building, policy making etc had affected development at the local level since some traditions do not inspire the leadership of women.

She noted that the availability of laws establishing the security of women and children would be better protected if those treaties and laws were domesticated and more importantly, implemented.

The International President Stand Up for Women Society, Mrs. Deborah Ijadele-Adetona, who is also a legal practitioner, advocated more investment in capacity building and empowerment of women by families, stakeholders and various governments in other to achieve sustainable peace and security across the country.

According to Mrs. Ijadele-Adetona, women form major key players in political campaigns, rallies, even as voters, but end up being the negligible percentage of elected officials.

She noted that the under representation of women in political leadership had affected the ability of Government to respond to and prevent violence against women.

Mrs. Ijadele-Adetona, who had been a victim of kidnapping, expressed worry that only 40% of women seek help of any sort after violations, which could lead to depression or death.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU