Less than 30 percent of women in Africa know their legal rights. This has been identified as a major problem in pursuing gender equality in the continent.
This was disclosed by the President, African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Mandy  Asagba, in an exclusive telephone interview with The Tide Women’s Desk.
Asagba, who hails from Delta State, Nigeria is a prominent human rights activist, and gender researcher stated that the mission of AWLA is to end gender inequality and protect the rights of women and children in African countries, through continuous education and sensitization.
According to Asagba who is also the Third Vice President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA),said, “we are sensitizing African women about their rights so that they cannot be trampled through injustice”.
Asagba, who is also the Founder and President of Legal Pool for Justice and Equality Initiative noted that the Association is sensitizing women and girls through education and advocacy and also legislative lobbying of law makers  and structures in African countries to  make sure that these laws are implemented by the governments, adding that, “we have lawyers in all the African countries that test these laws”.
She stated that the Association continues to perform pro bono duties for indigent women who have been denied their rights or dehumanized. Also, for children that have been abused sexually, AWLA has stood in defence of them, she said.
“We don’t charge fees in court for the poor. But for the rich that need our services, we ask them to donate to the Association for doing the job for them. There is a lot to be done in this area because we need to go beyond legal representation”, she said.
The AWLA President also stated that the Association educates women and girls on their rights through outreaches in markets, hospitals, primary and secondary schools, campuses, old people’s Homes, Homes for girls and boys, communities and through traditional rulers.
She explained that the outreaches through the traditional rulers is key and important because they are the custodians of culture and traditions in the communities.
“In the midst of these advocacy we are doing, in some African communities, they believe that once you are a man, a girl cannot say no to sex demand from  them. They  have that traditional belief that women should be enjoyed. Our work is to change that mentality and bring dignity and respect to womanhood “.
In Nigeria, she noted that in some communities, parents pay a man that is good at it to have sex with their daughters before marriage. In a particular state in the North Central, she added, “as we speak, husbands oblige their visitors to sleep with their wives. We need to do more advocacy in that area. This is women slavery”, she lamented.
“The women in that area should be enlightened more . That is why we included traditional rulers in our campaign. We are getting a lot of results but we need to do more”, she added.
Asagba however added that, the Association is also on the move  enlightenening women on empowering themselves through job opportunities which will inturn upgrade their husbands status and also support their fellow women to attain success in life.
According to her, “every woman should have it at the back of her mind that for her making milestones in life, it will also upgrade her husband’s status in society. Don’t ever resign from your job because of your husband, we are saying this from experience from what we are seeing on the field.
“There is this enlightenment also that women should support more women for positions that have been usurped  by men over the years. We are sure that by 2030,we will make good progress in this area”, she explained.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo