Sunday 20 December 2020

GENDER EQUALITY REVISITED

 Between the 17th and 18th of December, 2020, the 'Annual Women's Conference' with theme: 'Engendering a formidable force for gender equality' was held at the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Abuja. The parley was convened by Women's Voice & Leadership Nigeria (WVLN) Project,100 Women Lobby Group & Women in Politics Forum (WIPF). It was supported by Global Affairs Canada & Action Aid. Some of the sub-themes are: Women's political participation, Sexual & Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Economic justice, The role of He for She, Peace/Security and Media. The Nigeria Women Aspirants' Website was launched! The first stanza of the 'Women's Anthem' below, sets the tone:

Women's Anthem

All across the nation, all around the world

Women are longing to be free

No longer in the shadows, forced to stay behind

But side by side in true equality...

L-R: Ms. Ene Ede (FCT VAPP - Violence Against Persons Prohibition Coordinator) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

Some of the participants are:

*Dame Pauline Tallen - Minister for Women Affairs
*Dr. Oby Ezekwesili - Chair & Founder, Fix Politics/Former Minister for Education & Solid Minerals
*Iyom Josephine Anenih - Former Minister of Women Affairs
*Barr. Mary Ekpere-Eta - DG NCWD
*Ms. Ene Obi - Country Director, Action Aid
*Mrs. Felicia Onibon - National Coordinator, 100 Women Lobby Group/Founder & President Change Managers International Network
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Independent Consultant/Conflict Transformation Expert
*Prof Laide Adedokun - LASU
*Barr. Ebere Ifendu - President, Women in Politics Forum (WIPF)
*Mrs. Moji Makanjuola (MFR) - Veteran Broadcaster
*Prof. Joy Ezeilo - UNN
*Prof. Bunmi Ashimolowo - Discussant
*Prof. Yinka Omoregbe - Discussant
*Dr. Lydia Umar - Discussant
*Austin Aigbe - CDD
*Hon. Sarah Ochekpe - Discussant
*Hon. Titilayo Akerele - National Director, NILOWV

Each of the sub-themes was exhaustively discussed. On SGBV, the concensus was that the launching of the website for sex offenders since 2015 is a watershed in the fight against SGBV. See for example: Nigeria launches first national sex offenders register (25th November, 2019)    aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/26/nigeria-launches-first-national-sex-offenders-register
This online register, which is visible to the whole world, ensures that there is no hiding place for sex offenders! See also: GBV in film: Sandra's Cross    dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/12/gender-based-violence-in-film-sandras.html; The Gender Hub (GH): A viable tool for networking among stakeholders    dayokusa.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-gender-hub-gh-viable-tool-for.html; Kaduna stste Governor passes castration law for rape    https://www.republicworld.com/worldnews/africa/nigeria-governor-passes-castration-law-for-rape/; All 36 state Governors declare state of emergency over rape    https://www.voanews.com/africa/all-36-nigeria-governors-declare-state-of-emergency-over-rape; SGBV during Covid-19    https://theconversation.com/sexual-gbv-covid-19/

On the role of He4She, it was unanimously agreed that gender friendly males need to support the clamour for equality. Women cannot do it alone, they need the support of the men. On economic justice, the panelists said that women should be given equal access to opportunities/loans/training, etc. Besides, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the fact that 'digital marketing' is it. On peace and security, it was said that the WPS agenda should be executed via a viable road map. See for example: UNSCR 1325 @ 20: The role of women in the security sector    dayokusa.blogspot.com/2020/11/unscr-1325-20-role-of-women-in-security.html

Prof. Joy Ezeilo gave a good account of herself and her formidable team when she presented the report of their research on 'Beijing + 25' via Zoom. She revealed a number of shocking data/information from the research viz; 56% of respondents were Christians, 48% were NCE/OND holders, 47% were married, ages of respondents: 18 - 58 years, 81% never heard of FGM/child marriage/mental abuse/incest! Majority of respondents said poverty was a major cause of SGBV. Many alluded to poor response from government to SGBV. Many suggested 'modest dressing' for women. 78% had never heard of Beijing+ 25!

Research methodology: Multi-stage random cluster sampling, Random selection of states for study, Zoom (online) training for data gatherers, Computer analysis - coding/SPSS/% frequency/tables/charts/quantitative data. Challenges: Information consent, Challenges of Covid-19, review of extant literature, Feminist theory, Conflict theory, etc. 

Suggestions: More awareness needs to be created about the signposts of the Beijing conference held 25 years ago! NGOs should use the multi-media approach to disseminate extant information. The SDGs should be continually popularised. Adequate punishment of offenders would mitigate impunity as regards SGBV. For more effective detection, investigation and prosecution of SGBV cases, raw evidence should be conserved, investigation should be diligent, forensic investigation should be carried out by experts, community policing is essential, there should be synergy on effort to curb SGBV, etc. 

FeministHub.org was launched. I look forward to the next edition of the Women's Conference in 2021... 




Related Links

*Here's why Glass Ceiling may remain intact despite female leadership    https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2020/12/14/heres-why-glass-ceiling-may-remain.../
*After the pandemic, put women first    blogs.worldbank.org
*Paris City Hall fined for 'putting too many women in senior positions'    theguardian.com
*African companies' competitive edge: Women?    https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2020/12
*How fearless women lead    ted.com
*Women-led governments are more likely to deliver on campaign promises: Multi-country study    thewaddle.com    https://ow.ly/xqzt50DLd70
*The impact of Covid-19 on FGM in Egypt    https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/.../the-impact-covid-fgm-egypt/
*Neuro-scientists are ignoring the differences between males & females        newscientist.com
*Bill Gates can remove Melinda French Gates from Foundation in 2 years if they can't work together after their divorce      nytimes.com
*WPS & Humanitarian Action Compact      forum.genrationequality.com
*6 Nigerian Banks now have female MDs     https://lnkd.in/dxYZQPM
*Ms. Reem Alsalem is UN Special Rapporteur on VAW (1st August 2021)       https://lnkd.in/eDaACra
*Why don't we consider VAW&G terrorism?     feministcurrent.com
*Despite recovery efforts, women's unemployment continues to grow     www.gatesfoundation.org
*The unmasking of Biblical womanhood: Challenging day to day Evangelical patriarchy      newyorker.com
*The wisdom of women's fury     http://t.ted.com/Qe6JoCB
*We must raise girls to be brave, not perfect     http://t.ted.com/mlUP8dn
*Know your African feminists     africanfeministforum.com
*The origins of the 'Mad woman in the attic' by Jane Eyre: Potrayal of females in Victorian literature    youtube.com
*I gave birth, but mu husband developed post-partum depression       nytimes.com
*Rihana is officially a Billionaire and the richest female musician in the world     entrepreneur.com
*Partners'financial support is holding female academics back      timeshighereducation.com
*Addressing men & masculinities in GAD     https://lnkd.in/gv2Ja6P
*Sub-Saharan women risk exclusion from digital economy    unversityworldnews.com
*Why we don't talk about sexual violence aginst boys - & why we should    washingtonpost.com
*What it's like to be a woman in Yemen: 4 stories of women's strength and heroism    unrefugees.org
*Can you recognise unconscious gender bias in the workplace?    stem4all.eurasia.undp.org
*The women inspiring others in a male dominated industry    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54876525
*Dr. Jill Biden says women's achievements must be celebrated 'rather than diminished'    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jill-biden-women-twitter-wsj-b11773122.html
*Influential women discuss how to fearlessly navigate the business world    entrepreneur.com
*Covid-19 explodes the myth that women 'opt out'    bloomberg.com
*RICOM3 helps Nigerian women take ownership of their pregnancy journey    allafrica.com/stories/202012.../
*From Jackie O to Rihana, the ultimate guide to classic style    wsj.com/articles/from-jackie-o-to-rihana-style/
*Africa's women & girls: Victims in war & peace    nextierspd.com
*Erik Erikson's stages of Psychological Development    https://linkedin/dVakYg5
*Women's leadership for peace    http://ow.ly/dtkY50CSfEq
*Seeking gender justice & peace? Include men    https://womensenews.org/2020/11/seeking-gender-justice-peace.../    https://lnkd.in/eJaRgex
*Why women should stop worrying about being liked    https://www.forbes.com/sites/denise-restaur/2015/12/09/why-women-should-stop-worrying.../
*10 defining moments for women in 2020    unwo.men/Ytc250CTyoM
*Gender budgeting for more equitable education, paid work & political representation    ow.ly/guu450CSGzI
*Most prisons are built for men, while women's specific basic needs are ignored    unwo.men/Wun150CReFS
*The Arewa Me Too Movement endures while fighting GBV    sahelien.com
*Redistribution of power needed to achieve gender equality    bit.ly/2KooqoO
*The CoV is a disaster for feminism    https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/03/feminism-womens-rights-cov-covid-19/608302/
*Covid-19 pandemic highlights the limits of white feminism    https://time.com/5923763/white-feminism-pandemic/
*Feminist responses to Covid-19    https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.apaonline.org/resource/collection/.../FeminismCovidSpecialIssueV20n1.pdf
*A Wench's guide to surviving a 'global' pandemic crisis: Feminist publishing in a time of Covid-19    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/810691-020-09435-1
*The risks of being a woman during the pandemic    https://www.thenation.com/article/society/cov-feminism-domestic-violence/
*5 reasons why the CoV needs a feminist response    https://www.oxfam.org/en/5-reasons-why-cov-needs-feminist-response/
*Covid-19 &feminism in the global south: Challenges, initiatives & dilemmas    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/135050682.../
*Identity, politics & the pandemic: Why is Covid-19 a disaster for feminism?    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40656-020-00346-7
*A feminist perspective to Covid-19 & the value of care work globally    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341221788.../
*Covid-19 is a feminist issue    https://asiafoundation.org/2020/08/19/covid-19.../
*Feminism & the gendered impact of Covid-19: Perspective of a Counselling Psychologist    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7300594/
*Venezuelan women lose access to contraception and control over their bodies     nytimes.com
*Feminism in the Corona-Crisis    https://www.gwi.boell.de/en/feminism-corona-crisis/
*Opinion: Covid-19's war on feminism in the US    https;//www.e-ir.info/2020/12/14/opinion-covid-19-war-on-feminism/
*Feminism in pandemic times    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/pb-assets/146804.../pdf
*Feminist resources in the pandemic    https://centreforthefeministforeignpolicy.org/feminist-resources-on-pandemic/
*Call for a 'Feminist Covid-19 Policy'    feministallianceforrights.org/blog/2020/03/20/action-call-for-feminist-covid-19-policy/
*Gender & Covid-19    www.humanrightscolumbia.org/content/gender-and-covid-19/
*Gender-responsive budgeting & the Covid-19 pandemic    https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/...
*Feminist response to Covid-19    https;//www.feministcovidresponse.com
*Covid-19: Gender & Development Network    https://gadnetwork.org/covid-19
*Covid-19's impact on women in Nigeria shows need to go beyond gender-blind response   https://africanfeminism.com/covid-19-lockdown-impact-lives-nigerian-women/
*The feminist & the post-covid state    https://www.awid.org/news-analysis/feminist-post-covid-19-state/
*Feminist foreign policy & Covid-19    https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/feminism-foreign-policy-covid-19/
*African feminism: Post-Covid-19 economic recovery    https://sophia.smith.edu/meridians/solidarities/african-feminism-post-covid-economic-recovery/
*'Bridgerton's' Queen Charlotte latest to stir black debate    edition.cnn.com/2020/12/30/entertainment/queen-charlotte-bridgerton-black/
*The story behind 'Oloture', Nigeria's Netflix sex-trafficking drama    channelstv.com/2021/01/04/the-story-behind-oloture.../
*The idea that gender is a spectrum is a new gender prism by Rebecca Reilly-Cooper    aeon.co
*Fighting FGM in Sierra-Leone    allafrica.com/view/group/mai.../
*US Congress passes Malala Yousafzai Scholarship Act for Pakistani women    tribune.com.pk
*5 ways the pandemic affected gender equity in 2020    nbcnews.com/know-your-value/feature/32-years-progress-vanished-pandemic-affected-ncna1252119/ 
*How women can develop & promote their personal brand    hbr.org    https://t.co/s7QyURb3wzamp=1
*Why empowering female social entrepreneurs is key to economic recovery    https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/why-empowering-female-entrepreneurs-key-economic-recovery/
*Kamala Harris makes history with her 'big blended' family    nytimes.com/2021/01/17/us/kamala-harris-doug-emhof-family-inauguration.html
*The like-ability dilemma for women leaders    t.ted.com/B5xAS9A
*Why women's voices must be at the centre of re-building after Covid-19    https://m-gat.es/2MZybtM
*22 year old female Harvard graduate, Amanda Gorman, is the youngest inaugural poet in the US    https://nyti.ms/9KOxQA
*Why Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton & Michelle Obama wore purple on inauguration day    https://hahoo.com/lifestyle/why-kamala-harris-wore-purple-inauguration-day/
*Unequal burden: How the Covid-19 pandemic is adding to women's workload    wef.com/3iJqy6z  #gender  #covid19
*From rhetoric to reality: Advancing women's participation in peace processes    https://www.cfr.org/blog/rhetoric-reality-women-in-peace-processes/
*Estonia, the only country in the world with a female President & female PM    https://investinestonia.com/estonia-only-country-with-female-president-pm/
*The politics of fashion & beauty in Africa    https://feministafrica.net/feminist-africa-issue-21-2016-the-politics-fashion-africa/
*Feminism, sovereignty & the pan-African project: Lessons for today    africasacountry.com    
*We must raise girls to be brave, not perfect    http://t.ted.com/D9aFPaW
*The pandemic reminds us of how women show up to lead    https://www.smartbrief.com/2021/02/pandemic-reminds-us.../
*Covid-19 lock-downs in West Africa are avenues for undetected FGM: SDG Target 5:3 disrupted    nnngo.org
*Women re-invent themselves during the pandemic via creativity, resilience & determination    entrepreneur.com
*Women's political participation and its predictors in Northern & Southern Nigeria   https://bit.ly/2ZI1XfB
*WPS & the Digital Ecosystem: 5 emerging trends in the technology of gender policy landscape    https://ow.ly/nqIZ5ODpynO
*Biden breaks deadlock: Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI) becomes first woman and African DG of WTO    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55958682
*Female leadership in PB: What we can learn from women in the field    https;//www.univesiteitleiden.nl/en.../2021/03/female-leadership-pb/
*Women leaving the workforce because of the pandemic is a 'national emergency' - VP Kamala Harris    nyti.ms/2NmVbnO
*Women in Saudi Arabia can now take up arms and join the Military in latest widening of rights    aje.io/d6jl6
*Women make less in the gig economy - Study  thelily.com
*Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, breaks gender stereotypes by putting her career ahead of his as Second Gentleman    usatoday.com
*Merriam-Webster dictionary adds 'Second Gentleman' to describe Doug Emhoff's role    cnn.com
*The invisibility of older women    theatlantic.com
*US: 50 prominent men join push for direct payments to moms    cnn.com
*Rich woman, Kim Kiyasoki, recreates 'Rich dad, poor dad'    richdad.com
*Time for a female UN Secretary-General?    hrw.org
*Dr. Njide Okonjo-Udoche, MD, MPH, FAAFP (Sister of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - DG WTO) named Physician of the year 2021 in the US    https://web.facebook.com/photo/37564277644... 
*Examining the appropriateness of gender inclusion as a humanitarian response mechanism for conflict-related sexual violence against men by Catherine Akurut    https://www.manchesteropenhive.com/.../2/3/article-p35.xml
*Women's leadership results in more bipartisanship, equality, social welfare,peace & security: Women making a mark while transforming politics    http://ow.ly/JdJ05ODPoVpstories.devex.com
*Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world  #IWD    zw.undp.org
*The power of being single: Why you should own it    thriveglobal.com
*Women in violent zones    nextierspd.com
*The origins of sexism: How men came to rule 12,000 years ago    newscientist.com
*Female empowerment is more than a day, it's a movement    thriveglobal.com
*Men championing women    youtube.com
*Prince Harry opens up: A role mod for emotional availability in men and boys    cnn.com
*Female engagement in governance: Dynamics & new opportunities by Otive Igbuzor    https://web.facebook.com
*Hilary Clinton on Meghan & Harry's interview: Young women 'should no longer be forced into a mould that's no longer relevant, not only for them, but for our society'   cnn.com
*The myth?of monogamy    https;//www.linkedin.com/pulse/myth-monogamy-rachel-alexander.../
*Gender inequality in Higher Education persists    universityworldnews.com
*Nigeria's FG working on Special Court for GBV - AGF    icirnigeria.org
*Re-thinking sexual reproductive rights in Nigeria: Why abortion laws need reform    republic.com.ng
*WTO DG, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her definition of success    cnbcafrica.com
*7 men whose wives are making waves     newsbreakersonline.com
*The obstacles to women's liberation in Africa    youtube.com
*Prostitution & pornography: A historical view    nordicmodelnow.org
*How polyamourists & polygamists are challenging family norms    newyorker.com
*Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG WTO, wins WACA International Service Award    newsbreakersonline.com
*Finland's women-led government targeted by online harassment    https://lnkd.in/dNfDXgv
*Samia Hassan sworn in as Tanzania's first female President (18/3/2021)    aljazeera.com
*Nigerian & Ghanaian women working in Brussels' red-light district by Sarah Adeyinka et.al    https://lnkd.in/euDNjaz
*Action Aid's ten principles of feministleadership    actionaid.org
*The Guinness World Record for most children born toone mother goes to Valentia Vassilyev, the wife of Russian peasant, Feodor Vassilyev. She birthed a total of 69 babies in her lifetime - 16pairs of twins, 7 sets of triplets & 4 sets of quadruplets. She died @ 76.     https://web.facebook.com/photo
*Women with senior jobs sleep better in countries with gender equality    newscientist.com
*First time female protests against abuse gather pace globally    https://news.trust.org/tem/20210318.../
*US: It's 2021 and women still make 82 cents for every Dollar earned by a man   nbcnews.com
*Businesses looking to strengthen heir company should invest in women     commercialappeal.com
*Flowers against bullets: Belarusian women are turning everyday objects into protest symbols - and face persecution for it     meduza.io
*Women's recruitment into the security sector byCatherine White     http://ow.ly/CLpQ50E9ia1
*Women not getting the healthcare they need during the pandemic     forbes.com
*Empowered women create a more peaceful world     linkedin.com
*Tanzania's new female President, Samia Hassan, brings new hope towomen in East Africa     usip.org/publications/2021/03/...
*The missing piece: Father's role in stemming youth radicalisation     usip.org
*5 ways to actually help female entrepreneurs    entrepreneur.com
*How VAW & Children is represented in research      issafrica.org
*The hidden cost of promotions for women leaders     sheownsit.com
*How new age spirituality & sensitive masculinity led to QAnon     washingtonpost.com
*Policy Brief Series: WPS & the Generation Equality Action Coalitions     wlpf.org
*Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (NOI) as 'Bi-cultural Mediator' @ the WTO     https://buff.ly/2N3shIG  #WomensMonth
*'Women in Leadership' by Julia Gillard & Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala     https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/women-and-leadership/
*New Zealand offers bereavement leave for those who miscarry or have still birth      https://www.npr.org/2021/03/25/981309826/new-zealand-bereavement-leave-miscarriage-still-birth.../
*Making online events more inclusive by UNITAR      http://ow.ly/TSTL5OEkAZj 
*Covid-19 threatens to slow down women's progression tothe C-Level: What CEOs can do     forbes.com
*Why we mourn girlhood by Mellisa Febos    newyorker.com
*Banks with more women on their Boards commit less fraud     hbr.org
*Gender gaps and inequality  costing  economies of countries as much as 15% of GDP    gatesfoundation.org
*Where does the women workforce stand one year after Covid-19 struck?    entrepreneur.com
*Women score higher than men in most leadership skills    hbr.org
*Why women do the household worrying and how to get men to do more of it    nytimes.com
*Turning point for gender equality    womensagenda.com
*If Bill and Melinda Gates can't make their marriage work, what hope is there for the rest of us?    washingtonpost.com
*4 financial lessons women can learn from the Bill & Melinda Gates divirce announcement    entrepreneur.com
*25 year old woman unexpectedly gave birth to nine babies    entrepreneur.com
*6 women @ the forefront of West Africa's technology boom    vogueco.uk/news/article/women-leadership-leading-west-africa-tech-boom/
*Sexual assault as a weapon of war: History, effect and prevention    medium.com
*The women behind the Oxford/Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine     newscientist.com
*Facebook launches Global Women's Safety Advisory Board    https://www.facebook.com/safety/womenssafety
*Why investing in women is key to attaining the SDGs     unescap.org
*Ms. Katherine Johnson, NASA's human computer who calculated trajectories for Apollo space mission by hand is 100 years old (28th June 2021) linkedin.com
*Accounting giant, PwC, to allow employees period of time off for fertility treatment     consultingpoint.com
  
          
  
             


    

 




 




  


No comments: