Celebrating Int’l Women’s Day

Women round the world today mark this year’s International   Women’s Day (IWD), an annual event used to celebrate women’s achievement throughout history and across nation.

It is an event looked forward to by women  groups, non-governmental organizations, gender activists, governments, organizations, as it affords  them the opportunity to reflect on progress made to call for change and to celebrate  acts of courage and determination by ordinary women  who have played an extra ordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The series of advances that have improved the lives of women, particularly in the development world in the recent past must have given rise to the African Development Bank’s theme of this year’s celebration which is “The Gender Agenda: gaining momentum”. Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have progressed. Women  have made remarkable achievements economically, politically and socially.

In Nigeria for instance, women’s political awareness has been on the increase, leading to more women  participating in politics and seeking elective positions  both at the federal, state and local government levels.

The 35 per cent affirmative action sought for by the first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has further led to activists participation of more women in politics and  governance both at the federal, state and local government levels. These are all indications that women should pat themselves on the back and  say they have done well.

However, the battle for equality, justice, violence against  women is still far from won. Today’s event should therefore, be an occasion to think about what can be done to further promote the interest of women both globally and locally in line with the United Nations. Theme for this year “A promise is a promise: Time for Action to end violence against women”.

All over the world, women continue to be  victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as  significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide. Traditional and religious beliefs  that hinder the progress of women, especially in Nigeria are still  being practiced. Cases of rape and violation of  both young and old are  already  no news in Nigeria with no punishment being meted out to the perpetrators of such crimes. A woman once narrated at a public function how she was being sexually abused and battered  regularly by her husband but could do nothing about it because  her family, her husband’s family and even the police, saw nothing wrong in what the man was doing.

“What really beat my  imagination was how the police quickly  dismissed my case and told  me to go home and settle with my husband when  my neighbour took me to the police station after my husband almost beat me to death”, she said.

Unfortunately, unlike this woman, many Nigerian women both educated and uneducated    seem not to know their rights and do not even know when those  rights are trampled upon. A situation where a woman  who is being badly  treated by her husband  is forced to remain in marriage because “the dignity of a woman is her husband” is very worrisome.  Both economically and politically, women are still no where compared to their male counterpart.

One, therefore, truly thinks that events like today’s should be used to educate women on their rights. As the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Seminitari, suggested  when the state chapter of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) paid her  a courtesy call last Wednesday,  women journalists, female lawyers, and other female  professionals    should use the International Women’s Day to launch  raft of campaign  tackling everything from domestic violence,  rape and sensitization  of women, particularly those in  the rural  areas on programmes  and projects established for them by the state government and  how they can benefit from them.

It is not enough to organise workshops, seminars, lectures, road walks and invite  the best brains in the country to talk. There should be  more action. It is even worse  sitting down and lamenting the poor fortunes of women. We need action. After today’s event, what next? The various  women groups, NGOs, Ministries of Women Affairs (federal and states) should take further steps  to ensure that whatever plan of actions reached this period is  implemented. NGOs and professional  bodies like NAWOJ should be supported  by relevant  government  ministries, agencies and parastatals to carry out  sensitization and advocacy programmes to the rural  women as expected.

This is not a period to blame  government for our woes and expect  government  to solve  all the problems. Government  alone can not do it.

Therefore, women groups, female lawmakers and politicians NGOs, families, churches, town unions, village assembles and voluntary organisations should get involved in the struggle to make the world a better place for women. Let them fight against retrogressive cultures, traditions and beliefs militating against women.

There is need for economic  and political empowerment of women and eradication  of poverty in the country.

The gender agenda can actually gain more momentum if men and women will complement each other since they are equal in dignity.

Calista Ezeaku