Domesticate CEDAW, Women Tell State Legislators

AKANIMO SAMPSON

BUREAU CHIEF, PORT HARCOURT

Domesticate CEDAW, Women Tell State Legislators

Gender rights activists and concerned women groups in the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region, have joined others in the country to press the state Houses of Assembly to domesticate the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which Nigeria is a signatory.

Speaking yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at a one day sensitization workshop organized by Centre for Creative Arts Education in collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria, the Rivers state Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers, Mrs. Florence Feberisima said only a legislation of such would save women from the culture of violence they are subjected daily in the country, particularly in the hands of the men.

According to her, domestic violence was not all about wife battering but also includes assault on women from the males in their family circles. Mrs. Feberisima painted very sad and lamentable pictures of what some women suffer in the hands of their husbands. According to her, there was a case where a husband used hot iron on the breast of his wife just because he wanted to make a point.

She urged women not to die in silence as they could explore legal tools to guarantee their lives in a society with a culture of violence. Ä woman can remain in a marriage where she is constantly battered for over ten years hoping that it will get better. Finally when she is almost insane or physically disfigured. This kind of attitude will not only help to maintain healthy family ties and children who will be sound mentally and academically.

“When a spouse or family member prefers to use fist blows to settle family disputes it should not be tolerated or covered up””

She called for sensitization of all stake holders, gate keepers’ actors on women’s rights as another step to save the situation. “Take steps individually as mothers to build a culture of equality in our homes. Let the boys and girls share all tasks. Do not discriminate. “

Mrs. Feberisima also urged women to be industries, noting that it is demeaning to throw all their burdens on the man.

In her remark, executive director centre for creative arts education, Hilda Dokubo said they had to organize the sensitization workshop after a radio phone in programme they had. She said from that programme they realized that most men only understood violence against women as wife battering. “This workshop therefore is in response to those feedbacks and fears. It is also one of three point’s intervention action”

ENDS

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