The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies have been requested by the Center for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI) group to take further measures to safeguard the safety of women and girls during the general elections in 2023.
The center’s program manager, Paschal Idogbe, told journalists on Thursday in Abuja that providing adequate security will encourage women to actively participate in the election.
He pointed out that more than 70% of the country’s population is under the age of 30, particularly young women and girls.
According to him: “INEC and security agencies should provide the enabling environment for women and girls to be encouraged to participate in the forthcoming election.
“Women have the mind of mother, they care about welfare and the future, if interested with anything they would not fail”
Idogbe said young women and girls within the age range of 18-35 are largely not represented in decision making and governance.
According to him, they are often reduced to agents of political violence during elections while a number of other young persons show little or no interest at all in elections and its processes.
Idogbe said to address female marginalization, apathy and passiveness in Nigeria’s electoral processes.
“The centre implemented the Action for better female participation in elections in Nigeria project, being supported by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD”.
Collaborating, the communication officer Anastacia Okolo said the centre is concerned with the protection of women and girls’ right based on the conviction that all men and women are equal and indeed, they have right in the society.
“We protect women and girls right, we also promote equality for both gender. Giving justice to women is the same as giving justice to men, it is the only way to build a balance society”
