On the 15th of March 2016, the second reading of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill (GEO Bill) was on the agenda at the Senate. Unfortunately, this Bill which seeks to address all forms of discrimination against women as enshrined in the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), African Protocol on the Rights of Women and Section 42 of the Nigerian Constitution, was rejected based on cultural and religious reasons. ENE OSANG writes
In a statement jointly signed by the Head of Programme Oxfam Nigeria Mr. Constant Tchona, Oby Nwankwo of the National Coalition for Affirmative Action (NCAA) and Secretary General of Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA) Hajia Saudatu Madhi, this development has generated strong reactions from gender advocates and activist within and outside Nigeria, calling for the immediate passage of the law.
The statement said this move forced the Senate President to reassure the public that the Bill will be re-presented after it has been drafted to address some of the reservations that were expressed on the floor of the Senate.
Of great concern to many, is the fact that this will be the third time the Senate will throw out this same Bill, which seeks to empower women and the Girl child from discrimination and violence, rescue them from being treated as chattels and ensure that women play a role in public and private decision making process.
Tchona said the bill seek to protect the rights of women in marriage, which is the objective the Haki Mkononi project, which Oxfam in partnership with WRAPA is currently implementing in Kaduna and Plateau States, towards ensuring that poor women are able to claim their rights and live free from all forms of discrimination and violence.
According to him, it is not surprising that this is happening considering the gender in-balance in the Nigerian Senate, with only 7 women Senators out of the 109 Senators; hence the dissenting voices of men had their way when the Bill was read in the floor of the Senate.
He noted that a close look at the Bill reveals the following merits, which must be brought to the fore, to educate the public to support the call for the passage of this Bill.
“The bill will bring about development and advancement of all persons, male and female in the country and will go a long way in eliminating cultural practices like early or forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and disinheritance which are inimical to women and the girl child development,” the statement said.
Adding that research data from different development reports, including World bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reveals that increasing social and economic opportunities and political representation for women has ripple effects on health, education, and socio-economic outcomes throughout society and for the next generation.
“The Nigerian Government will, by the enactment of the GEO Bill, fulfil its international obligations undertaken through the ratifications of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child amongst others.”
He maintained further that the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders, including President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR at the United Nations General Assembly, New York, in September, 2015 which came into force January 1, 2016 envisaged a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination. A world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality and all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed.
“By enacting this Bill into law the National Assembly will be giving full meaning or effect to Section. 42 of the 1999 Constitution that prohibits discrimination on grounds of sex amongst others; but fell short of enacting in clear terms the principle of equality and non- discrimination that has become part of customary international law, for which no derogation is permitted.”
On this note he warned that failure to pass this Bill, will deny women and girls the power they require to live their lives free from poverty and their ability to work with men to challenge inequalities and social norms that are retrogressive.
“We, Oxfam Nigeria, National Coalition for Affirmative Action (NCAA) and Women’s Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA) , therefore join forces with the rest of the world in calling for the immediate passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, by the National Assembly,” the statement said.
