A coalition known as Women Voices Network has been launched to build a synergy to drive positive change in issues around women especially concerning rights and involvement in decision making has been formed in Rivers State.

The network, an outcome of a two-day sensitisation workshop on existing legal instruments- the Convention on Elimination  of All forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, the Optional Protocol on Human Rights and the Nigerian Gender Policy, for promoting gender justice was formally launched at Mina Hotels Port Harcourt.

Organised by Gender Action for Development, GADA, a gender related non-governmental organisation with support from Stakeholders Network for Democracy, SDN for grassroots women leaders from Erema and Otuesiga attended by representatives of the Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ and gender experts and some gender friendly partners, the new platform will advocate for the enactment of an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunities Commission Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly and will host quarterly discussion platforms and publications among other activities.

Explaining the rational for the new coalition, Mrs Deborah Effiong, coordinator GADA Rivers State said the wide inequality in the society despite years of the existing instruments to aid women advancement raised the need for a stronger voice to “push for the advancement of Niger Delta women with a view to ending patriarchy and enthrone gender justice. She urged members to be committed so the goals would be achieved.

Launching the network, Mrs Blessing Dienye, director, women affairs in the Rivers State ministry of Women Affairs said the coalition has become imperative because women in Nigeria, Rivers State in particular, have failed to speak out on their needs and that has robbed them of numerous opportunities.

The director urged women to rise up in unity, push forward and network with all relevant segments and endeavour to fulfill the Women Voices goal.

In an earlier presentation Mrs Inie Aguma, a former commissioner and past FIDA chairman had lamented the failure of women to take advantage of already passed laws and legal instruments that protect them.

Said she: “Women have failed to make use of the legislation available to protect them. Rivers State has several laws beneficial to women-the harmful traditional practices law, 2003, the gender mutilation law-but nobody has come forward to complain of abuse. Without a complaint the law can not be enforced so this culture of silence must be dropped”.

She advised women to present themselves for political and public recognition and be ready to compete effectively by enhancing their capacity. A communique issued at the close of the workshop called on women to support females in political elections, rise from uniform wearers to demand for tangible democratic dividends and begin the gender justice from their homes by raising both sexes of their children equally.

The communique harped on capacity building for confidence building and called on women to speak up against discrimination, abuses and obnoxious laws.

It also called for the formation of a network of women organisations to “follow up an action plan to push for the enactment of an Affirmative Action Bill for a law to establish the Rivers State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission at the Rivers State House of Assembly”.

Mrs Florence Amasimeka, commissioner for administration in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission also took the women through the simplified CEDA W and Optional Protocol documents.