By Correspondent in Awka
Prof. Joy Onyesoh, International President of Women International League for Peace and Freedom in Nigeria(WILPF), has called on Federal Government to guarantee security reassurance of women in politics.
Participants at the launching ceremony
Onyesoh made the call on Thursday during the official launch of Early Warning Centre on Preventive Violence Against Women in Elections on Wednesday in Awka, Anambra state.
Onyesoh, who is the country’s Director of WILPF in Nigeria and Convener of Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN), said the call was apt, adding that the state prepares for governorship election on November 6.
She said that all authorities involved in elections process needed to catty out their operations in a manner that would breed peace and progress in the state.
“WSRN was launched in Anambra in preparation to watch and report effectively, electoral actions from its political party primaries to the Nov. 6 election.
“ We appeal to INEC and Security Operatives to shun acts that may entertain electoral violence against women or men,” she said.
Onyesoh also called on state government and INEC to ensure heavy sanction for any political party that engages youths wrongly or activities that would undermine women participation.
She said that WSRN had a team to work round the state to gather and report back to the body, any form of violence against women or men during and after the election.
“ We ask for fairness and equality in the upcoming election and the policies need be gender friendly, we reject intimidation or violence against women in any form.
“ Our mission is to encourage electoral act that is unbiased and gender friendly and we urge the public to call WSRM on 0800dialWSRM080034259776 to report any form of electoral violence,” she said.
Onyesoh further urged women and girls, yet to register for their voters card to do so in the various INEC offices in their council areas to enable them take active part in politics.
Dr Daniel Ezeanyawu, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Economic and Budget Planning and representative of Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development commended the group assured the group that Anambra Governor Chief Willie Obiano is a gender friendly governor.
He assured that the election would be gender friendly.
Ezeanyawu commended the group for launching the body, first in Anambra and its plan of involving all security bodies in the state and assured good environment.
Mrs Ebere Ifendu , President, Women in Politics forum, in a paper presentation entitled “ The Relevance of early warning in mitigating violence against women in politics”,said that violence against women in politics remained a taboo.
He urged women to develop self-esteem and have confidence in themselves.
Speaking earlier,Iyom Joesphine Anenih, former Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development said that WERM was a network of women, focused on promoting peace and stability in elections.
Anenih added that the group was committed to women peace and security as a frame work for women participation in peace and security processes.
She said that WSRM was initiated and established during February 2015 general elections in Nigeria with zonal coordinators across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
She said that violence against women in elections is usually used as a target and destructive tool in various ways throughout electoral cycle to dissuade women from politics.
“ We need to stand up against such inhuman acts and take our place in politics, participate as voters and candidates, elections administrators,” she said.
