C’Wealth Women Parliamentarians Want 30% Slots for Women

The 1st Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (SWP) West Africa Sub-Region Conference has ended its meeting in Port Harcourt with a call for thity per cent poltical positions for women within the region.

In a six-point communiqué issued at the end of the 3-Day Conference, the CWP stated that the thirty per cent positions sought should be made compulsory for political parties to implement through a legislation by member.

The communiqué, which was signed by Hon. Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, Ghana,  Hon. Dame Maureen Tamuno, Nigeria and Hon. Rev. Marie Yansaneh, Sierra Leone, on behalf of the organisation, urged the electoral commissions of the member nations to ensure strict implementation of the decision.

The communiqué also stated that in a case where women are not able to meet the financial requirements for election, special seats should be reserved for them.

It further added that in the case of Nigeria that has six geo-political zones, each zone should be allocated five per cent of the elective offices adding that it would not be too much for each of the zones to forfeit some state Parliamentary offices to women at the National Assembly level.

The CWP called for more Governments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to be involved in the campaign and championing of women participation in politics.

The communiqué also urged traditional rulers in the region to be gender sensitive in formulating customary laws, insisting on the need to abolish harmful cultural and traditional practices that violate womens’ rights.

It further called for the training of youths, especially females, enable them to be economically and politically empowered.

The communiqué urged men to encourage their wives and daughters to take up political and economic leadership positions in the society.