Issued: Tuesday, 8th March 2022
Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) joins women in Nigeria and the rest of the world to commemorate International Women’s Day 2022. This year’s celebration is themed #BreakTheBias. The theme is apt considering ongoing experiences of Nigerian women with gender bias in our communities, workplaces, and decision-making spaces.
#BreakTheBias is a clarion call to governments, institutions, individuals, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to take pro-active measures to achieve gender parity. The sub-theme for this year’s celebration – “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” recognises and celebrates women and girls who are at the forefront of climate change adaptation and response; honours their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future. It is worthy to note that Nigeria is part of 196 countries that signed the Paris Accord in 2015 to address climate change.
Women worldwide and especially in Nigeria, are struggling for inclusion in high level decision making and governance spaces. PLAC joins in calling for an end to bias, prejudice and stereotypes that prevent women from achieving their potential and ascending to key decision-making structures.
The recent decision of the National Assembly to reject the key Constitution amendment bill aimed at creating special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, re-enforces the need to continue to press on the government to take significant actions towards full participation and equal leadership opportunities for women at all levels of decision making in Nigeria. With continued women exclusion from these structures, a sustainable future cannot be guaranteed for Nigeria and the world indeed.
At PLAC, we believe a sustainable future requires gender balance today. We therefore remain committed to women inclusion and gender equality and stand firm in our commitment to advocate for policies and reforms that would break the bias against women in political leadership positions.
PLAC calls on the Nigerian National Assembly to prepare to re-introduce the Bill to Provide for Special Seats for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, with a view to passing same before the end of the 9th Assembly.
PLAC commends and congratulates Nigerian women who have been resilient in the struggle to break the constitutional, political, social, religious, and cultural biases against them. We call on men, husbands, fathers, and sons to join the movement to #BreakTheBias by projecting women in their communities, workplaces, in politics, the legislature and indeed every sector.
The country we desire can only be actualised when we work together to #BreakTheBias.
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SIGNED:
Clement Nwankwo
Executive Director
Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre
