Nigeria: National Political Conference - women’s full participation not negotiable!

So far, all the State governors with the exception of a few have nominated all male representatives to the conference. The federal government nominees are also not representative enough. We find this not surprising but disappointing that women, constituting more than half of the nation’s population, are consciously excluded from such a vital event.

In the history of Nigeria, women have contributed immensely to all struggles including the struggle towards the enthronement of democracy. They have not relented and are still contributing their quota to the nurturing of the nascent democratic process in the country.

The issues to be discussed at the conference, which include political parties reform, constitutional reforms, electoral reforms and Legal reforms are areas that women as group and individuals have excelled in and with several years of experience and as such are also in an excellent position to contribute to the process.

We call on the Federal and State governments to see it as a priority to review the list and make the necessary adjustments. The continued exclusion of women from such national events is not only unjust but also unacceptable and discriminatory. It also negates and contradicts the principle of equality and fair play as contained in the constitution as well as other international instruments which the government has signed and ratified like the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women, (CEDAW).

BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights
Lagos, Nigeria.