By Jedidah Silas Kiman
Gombe
The United Nations Women (UN Women) have said that poor representation of women in decision making position, abuse of child’s rights and gender-based violence had persisted in many parts of the country due to lack of adequate legal frame work.
The UN Women also urged that the media should assist through public enlightenment, as well as moving government towards establishing laws that “give backing to adequate protection and promotion of women and children’s rights.”
They made the call during a meeting with media practitioners in Gombe, where it was also observed that “despite several efforts to promote gender equity and equal opportunity by several organisations in recent times, women and girls continue suffer from discrimination in both public and private settings, especially the rights to education, political and economic opportunities.”
Also speaking during the meeting, the Gender Technical Advisor for the UN Women’s Peace and Security Project in Gombe, Mrs. Rhoda Diya, highlighted the need for the passage and implementation of gender bill and strengthening of Child’s Rights Act in other to ensure promotion and protection of women’s and girls’ rights.
She said the UN Women project in three selected states of the North was working towards addressing some of the challenges that prevented women from getting involved in decision making and issues that affected their lives.
Also speaking, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Hajiya Laraba Ahmed, represented by Mrs. Asabe Adamu, emphasised the need for laws legislation that gives backing to promotion of women and children’s right in the society.
According to her, efforts were being made by Government and its partners to ensure domestication of laws that would seek to elimination of gender based vises, and promote women’s rights and empowerment in the state.
