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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ebonyi State and a group, Women Situation Room (WSRN), have agreed to champion women’s advancement.
The union and the group also agreed to fight violence against women during elections and all other factors that affect women’s participation in politics.
The union and the group reached the agreement when the Women Situation Room Nigeria paid an advocacy visit to the state Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Samson Nwafor, in his office at Dr. Sam Egwu Press Centre, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
Addressing the NUJ Chairman, the state Coordinator of WSRN, Loretta Nwafor, noted that women participate actively in elections and often confront violence from political actors and supporters, which has made many women lose interest in the nation’s political process.
She described gender-based violence and violence against women in elections as human rights violations that undermine the principles of democracy, equality, and justice.
“Women Situation Room is a Civil Society Organisation that seeks to increase women’s substantive participation in the political process and conflict prevention in accordance with UNCR 1325.”
“The Women Situation Room was created with the understanding of the gendered and dynamic nature of violence and the facts on elections or conflicts that trigger violence in most African countries. It therefore becomes imperative that women develop a mechanism to counter this pattern.”
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“Gender-based violence and violence against women in elections are human rights violations that undermine the principles of democracy, equality, and justice.”
“In many societies, women continue to face various forms of violence and discrimination, before, during, and after elections,” Nwafor stated.
Receiving the group, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Samson Nwafor, commended them for advocating for positive change in society.
He noted that the agenda of the group, which seeks better change in society, was similar to that of journalists and assured that the union and the group would partner for the advancement of change.
He implored women to break the barriers that hinder them from actively participating in politics, which include unwillingness, intimidation, and other factors.
“Our practice, our primary assignment, is almost the same thing as what we are doing.”
“We fight for justice, we fight for equity, we communicate to ensure that society gets better, to ensure that we have a society where everybody will be seen to be equal, a society where everybody will get justice, a society where everybody will have freedom.”
“This is what we stand for as a union, and it is like we are almost on the same lane because what you are talking about is what we do as professionals,” he told the group.
