This is to commemorate year 2020 International Day of the Girl Child.

For a raised voice to excel, be powerful and very effective, it has to contain certain crucial elements. It’s no wonder therefore that not every raised voice excels. How therefore, can the voice of the girl-child be made effective so that when raised, it can excel?

Here are four essential wisdom pillars, I believe if wisely activated and utilised, would remarkably transform the voice of the girl-child and make her highly successful in her endeavour.

The Four Wisdom Pillars.

1. AWARENESS: An effective voice must be fully conscious and possess relevant knowledge:

• The Girl child must know (who she is), that she is a human being and very special one.
• She must be conscious of her environs and society; She must know her rights and know they would be infringed upon.
• She must know what to do whenever those rights are trampled on.
• She must learn and know how to rightly defend herself.
• She must be aware that most of the time, silence is a killer; that to be silent could be tragic.

2. CLARITY: The effective voice must be clear.

• She must have clarity of mind, clarity of pursuit and clarity of purpose.
• She must say what she means and mean what she says.

3. RESPONSIBILITY:

• The effective voice is responsible, focus, studious and is determined to excel.
• The effective voice responds appropriately, behaves responsibly and is not afraid to seek justice, take-up important duties, or face challenges!

4. COURAGEOUS: The effective voice is courageous.

• She must courageously pursue challenging dreams and aspirations; takes on uncommon academic pursuits despite discriminations and gears up to change negative narratives about her gender.
• She must be courageously innovative; seeks to be technologically savvy, have the courage to say ‘NO!’ to abusers, sexual predators and discriminations of all kinds.

AWARENESS/ KNOWLEDGE

Some prevalent issues of which the Girl-Child must have knowledge:
Gender-based Violence: This is violence directed against a person because of their gender. Below are the ways It Affects The Girl Child:

Sexual Violence: Any sexual act involving a girl-child (with or without her consent) is unlawful. Sexual violence takes the form of rape, sexual assault, defilement etc

Psychological Violence: This can take the form of, coercion, verbal insult, intimidation or harassment.

Economic Violence: Any act or behaviour which causes economic harm to the girl Child. Economic violence can take the form of, resisting the girl child rights to education or her right to be paid where she’s trading to earn a living.

Cultural Oppression: This includes; Child Marriage, Body shaming, FGM –Female Genital Mutilation- Female circumcision is a violation of girls human rights.
Gender Discrimination-prejudicial Treatments:  This includes inequalities of all kinds and all kinds-of stigmatisation.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”– Martin Luther King.

CLARITY

The human voice is an integral part of our humanity. It is an actively visible emblem that must be lawfully, maximally and personally utilized for each of us to excel. It is why clarity is so important. Having the capacity to project appropriate sounds at the right time can make a critical difference in the way a human, adult or child is perceived and treated. Sometimes, it makes a difference between life and death!

For instance, there are many ways in which ‘NO!’ can be said ineffectively. To prevent abuse on your person, you must learn to say ‘No!’ appropriately.  Do not say, “No!” vaguely or insufficiently. Do not say it shyly. Do not say it giggling! Firmly reject the act that makes you uncomfortable, even if such act is from a family member.

• Say it loudly. Repeat it again and again.
• Shout it out and mean it!  Be assertive! Then follow up with Actions. Reject the act of abuse, walk away and run away from the scene.
• Tell somebody about the abuse. Swiftly gets support as early as possible.
  Make it an habit to report abuse of any kind.
• You cannot practise this too often enough. Shout. Do not be afraid to speak out!

RESPONSIBILITY

BE Responsible. One very good way to be responsible in attitude is to focus on your studies and Avoid Broken Focus.

Today, many challenges betide the girl child. Practically, it seems the odds are against her. This we see in the increasing statistics on Teenage pregnancy and the waning good morality in our society.

Consequently, we have more sexually charged atmosphere and increase in criminal activities.  More than ever before, the environment is dangerous to the girl child.

Unfortunately, by her attitude, she seems to have resigned to becoming much less of what she is created to be.

Broken focus is caused by the force of distraction. Distraction arises when a person is captivated by things that distract the mind from focusing on the most important mission at hand. For instance, the following would break the focus of the girl-child.

• The Social Media.
• Distractions from opposite sex/gender.
• Peer competition and pressure–to impress the opposite sex in class/ school.
• Inappropriate relationships – leading to sexual and criminal activities.
  Premature Sex.

Use your school time only to learn rather than doing rubbish like passing love notes. Concentrate on your studies, getting all the education you need. Broken focus will kill your dreams. For me, seeing the death of the lofty dreams of a girl-child is as sad as burying a loved one.

You have greatness in you. You have tremendous potential! You were not born to waste your sweet smelling fragrance on the desert air. You were born to realise your full potential.

BE COURAGEOUS

• It takes courage to uphold high moral values regardless of the shifting cultural mores.
• Breaking the gender barriers because you’re determined to succeed despite the odds is tremendously courageous.
• Speaking out against any form of injustice is courageous.
• Doing right when you are told to do wrong, is absolutely courageous.

As a girl-child, you must learn to discern:-

• When an instruction is working against the values you have been taught.
• When an instruction has the potential to do more harm than good. 
• And when what you are told to do demeans your dignity, makes you uncomfortable and distorts good values and good morality.

The above are but few of the essential wisdom pillars that would transform and make the girl-child excel in all her life’s endeavours. Activating them will give her a good start to raise an effective voice in any society. Practising them doggedly will eventually enable her to excel maximally. This will ultimately bring her honour, confidence and respect.

11th October 2020.

©Tejumade A. Sijuwade-Oke, Esq

 Legal Practitioner.

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HRH Olori Olufunmi Oluyede’s appointment as Director, FIDA International, and American Bar Association ILS Ambassador to FIDA International, is a testament to her exceptional leadership and dedication, having served with distinction as Chair, FIDA Lagos, Secretary FIDA USA, National  President/CVP FIDA USA, and Regional Vice President (RVP) FIDA North America.

Member, FIDA International Governance Committee_ (2015-2018)

Member, FIDA International Constitutional Review Committee (2018-2022)

Ezinwa Nwanyeze Okorafor’s election as President, FIDA International is a testament to her tireless efforts, leadership acumen, and unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment

A renowned Nigerian women’s rights advocate has clinched the most exalted position of President, FIDA International, culminating from her decades-long dedication to  FIDA from as a passionate young lawyer, committed to promoting women’s empowerment and rights to Chair, FIDA Lagos Branch (2005-2008):

National Vice President, FIDA Nigeria(2008-2012):

Regional Vice President (RVP), FIDA West Africa (2012-2015):.International Vice President, FIDA International(2015-2022

Inimefien Ifeyinwa Agume has held various leadership positions within FIDA Nigeria, culminating in her appointment as Treasurer, FIDA International.

She was

Chair, FIDA Rivers State Branch

National Assistant Secretary, FIDA Nigeria

National Vice President (South-South)

Inimefien Ifeyinwa Agume’s dedication to FIDA Nigeria and her leadership expertise have prepared her for her new role as Treasurer, FIDA International.

The appointment of these 3 distinguished ladies demonstrate their outstanding commitment to advancing women’s rights and justice.

AWLA is immensely proud of your achievements and wishes you continued success in your new roles. Your accomplishments inspire us all, and we celebrate your well-deserved recognition.

Please accept our heartfelt congratulations!

Sincerely,

Amanda Demech- Asagba

President

African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)

The post Congratulations to Our Distinguished Member and Colleagues from our Sister Organization on Their Outstanding Achievements! appeared first on .

2. Impact of SGBV on survivors’ physical and mental health and support systems:
– 70% of survivors experience depression, anxiety, and PTSD (WHO, 2013).
– Support systems: National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian Police Force’s Gender Units, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency ( DSVA) and NGOs like African Women Lawyers Association ( AWLA) Legal Pool for Justice and Equity Initiative ( LPJEI) Project Alert, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) and Mirabel Centre

3. Cultural and societal norms contributing to SGBV prevalence:
– Patriarchal norms and practices (e.g., child marriage, female genital mutilation).
– Stigmatisation of survivors and victim-blaming.
– Limited education and economic empowerment opportunities for women and girls.

4. Role of traditional and religious leaders in facilitating cultural shift:
– Influencing community attitudes and behaviors.
– Promoting education and economic empowerment.
– Encouraging reporting and support for survivors.
– creating awareness in their Communities

5. Stigma and victim-blaming:
– 60% of survivors experience stigma and blame (Project Alert, 2020).
– Silences survivors and perpetuates violence.

6. Laws and government policies addressing SGBV:

– Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
– Child Rights Act, 2003.
– National Policy on Gender Equality.

7. Challenges in enforcing existing laws:

– Limited resources and capacity.
– Corruption and lack of political will.
– Inadequate data collection and reporting.
– Lack of Victim support and witnesses protection

8. Suggestions for improving SGBV laws:

– Strengthening law enforcement and justice systems.
– Increasing funding for support services.
– Enhancing public awareness and education.
– Victim and Witnesses support
– Victim Compensation and welfare support

9. Family and community dynamics in preventing SGBV against children:

– Parent-child communication and education.
– Community-based prevention programs.
– Engaging traditional and religious leaders.

10. Services and resources for SGBV survivors:

– Counseling and psychosocial support.
– Medical and legal aid.
– Shelter and economic empowerment programs.
– Educational Empowerment

11. Role of NGOs and grassroots movements:

– Advocacy and awareness-raising.
– Service provision and support.
– Community mobilization.
– advancement of survivors rights to welfare support and compensation
– advocating a One stop shop for support services

12. Digital solutions for reporting and support:

– Online reporting platforms (e.g., NAPTIP’s online reporting system).
– Mobile apps (e.g., StandtoEndRape’s mobile app).
– Social media campaigns.
– provide detailed list of support centres and contact details
– Referral network

13. Impact of international human rights frameworks:

– UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
– African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
– Influencing national laws and policies.

Sources:
– National Demographic and Health Survey (2018)
– UNICEF (2020)
– WHO (2013)
– AWLA
– Project Alert (2020)
– LPJEI
– CAIN Foundation
– WRAPA
– NAPTIP
– Nigerian Police Force
– UN Women
– African Union

The post TACKLING SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA appeared first on .

The critical question remains: who will make the necessary sacrifices to bring about transformative change? The entrenched interests of corruption will continue to fight back, often vilifying the very individuals committed to driving positive reform.

Nigeria’s struggle for genuine emancipation from mental slavery persists. Our people remain shackled by self-interest and shortsightedness ( Yi o bunmi lo so talika di eru), rather than embracing selflessness and collective empowerment.

History has shown that great nations are built by selfless leaders who prioritize the welfare and empowerment of their citizens, rather than personal aggrandizement. It is time for Nigeria to embark on this path.

We urge brave and courageous individuals to step forward, willing to challenge the entrenched interests and fight for a better future. We must support these champions of change, rather than allowing selfish forces to silence them.

Together, we can break free from the cycle of corruption and build a nation founded on justice, equality, and selfless leadership.

The Nigeria Quagmire: Breaking the Silence and Challenging the Status Quo

Edmund Burke did say:

“ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing …”

Many await a miraculous solution to Nigeria’s woes, remaining silent in the face of injustice and evil. Some conform to the crowd, compromising their values for fleeting favours or personal gain. The insidious phrase “every man has a price”

“ these riff-raffs that I will wrap around my fingers”

perpetuates a culture of corruption.

We are complicit, waiting for a heroic figure to rescue our nation. But heroes emerge from among us. It’s time to break the silence, challenge the status quo, and confront the forces of oppression.

We must recognize our collective responsibility to drive change. The change Nigeria needs begins with each individual’s courage to:

– Speak truth to power

– Refuse to be swayed by bribes or favours

– Stand against injustice and corruption

– Demand accountability from leaders

The wait for an Angelic saviour must end. We are the agents of change Nigeria needs. Let us rise above apathy, unite, and forge a better future for our nation.

Conclusion

-stop dwelling on what you can grab or gain but what you can offer and give  to make a change

– Encourage collective action and personal responsibility.

– need for selfless leadership.

– historical precedent of successful nations built on selfless leadership.

– need to inspire and mobilise individuals to drive positive change.

– Avoid inflammatory or divisive rhetoric, focusing on constructive critique and solutions-oriented dialogue.

– ⁠shun ‘the pull  down’ Syndrome

– ⁠’sit down look’ syndrome

– ⁠’yi o bunmi lo so talika di eru’ syndrome ( expectations of crumbs from the masters table turned the poor man to a slave)

– Emphasize the need to break silence and challenge corruption

– unsettle the settled

– Inspire individuals to become agents of positive change.

– Utilize persuasive language to mobilize and motivate.

– respect the human dignity of every human being.

– ⁠join the change agents to build the Nigeria of our dreams

Thank you.

Mandy Demechi-Asagba

President

African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)

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We are thrilled to share that our latest publication has been featured in This Day LAWYER. You can find it on Page VI of the Lawyer Pages in today’s edition of This Day.

We invite you to check it out and share your thoughts with us!

For more details, please see Page VI of This Day LAWYER.

This Day Newspaper – october 8, 2024

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Yetunde, your legendary PR skills and compassionate and professional approach have made relating with the police a truly positive experience. You’re an inspiration to women everywhere, and your unwavering commitment to excellence is a beacon of hope. Your ability to tackle any challenge with ease and efficiency is truly remarkable.

This promotion is just the beginning – we have no doubt that you’ll continue to soar to even greater heights. We envision you occupying Lois Edet House most hallowed Chambers someday, leaving an indelible mark on the institution.

Keep up the fantastic work, and may the Almighty continue to guide, strengthen, and equip you for this new rank. We’re honored to have you as part of our AWLA family and look forward to witnessing the incredible feats you’ll accomplish.

We’re grateful to have you as a role model.

Hearty Congratulations from all of us at AWLA!

Mandy Demechi- Asagba
President

Sakinah Adepeju Oduye-Quadri
Secretary General

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Observed annually on October 11, the International Day of the Girl Child aims to spotlight the issues faced by girls worldwide and promote their empowerment. This year’s theme, “Invest In Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” emphasized the need for inclusivity in fostering societal progress.

The event, hosted at Government Secondary School, Festival Road, Garki, was a collaborative effort between TACF, the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), and the NGO Sisters, Wives, and Mothers (SWiM). TACF President and Founder, Mr. Femi Adekunle, highlighted the challenges faced by girls in Nigeria, citing harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriage, as well as the slow adoption of the Child Rights Act in several northern states.

Guest speakers included Mr. Chiedu Aliogo, a lawyer, who educated the girls on their human rights, and Mrs. Carol Ojukwu from AWLA, who encouraged them to follow in the footsteps of prominent Nigerian women excelling in various fields. The girls were also treated to refreshments as part of the day’s celebration.

More read: Pomp As  The Adekunle Child Foundation Marks International Day Of Girl Child In GSS Garki  – Times Reporters

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CSW69 registration for representatives of NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is open from 4 October 2024 to 24 January 2025 online. Online registration is mandatory for all participants. We are not able to accept registrations by e-mail. Special consideration to include youth members and members with disability in our delegation whose voice and contribution is critical if no one is to be left behind. Applications will be considered on first come first serve basis. Only Financial members with evidence of their payment of annual subscription for five years preceding their application will be Considered

Online registration for representatives will take place on Indico.UN, the event registration system of the United Nations. Once registered, representatives must be approved by our organization’s Conference Focal Point.

UN Women does not approve representatives. Once the registration has been approved by our focal person, you will receive an approval letter via email that may be presented for visa applications.

Due to space constraints, the numbers of attendees to CSW sessions is kept to a minimum and do not exceed 20 representatives per organization.

Please register early, late registrations will not be possible.

Registration deadline: 24 January 2025

The United Nations will not facilitate arrangements, or pay for any costs, such as travel, visa or accommodation expenses, for participants. Such arrangements and costs are the exclusive responsibility of the participants.

Please go to https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/ngo-participation/registration for the Indico.UN registration link and relevant instructions.

Thank you

For further Enquiries contact:
Info@awla.international
awlainternational@gmail.com

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Let us UNITE, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls! It is indeed sad to note that Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

This scourge has intensified and reached an intolerable crescendo in different settings, including the home, workplace and online spaces, and has been exacerbated by post-pandemic effects, conflicts, and climate change. The skyrocketing increase in the number of defilement of children below the age of 12 years is most worrisome requiring very urgent attention.
The solution lies in robust responses, all people and governments urgent and intentional responses including investment in prevention. However, alarmingly, data on how much nations are committing to counteract violence against women and girls remains glaringly sparse and requires urgent upward review. For instance, just 5% of government aid is focused on tackling violence against women and girls, and less than 0.2% is directed to its prevention. We need more investment in women’s organizations, better legislation, prosecution of perpetrators, more services for survivors, and training for law enforcement officials and more sensitization and creation of awareness. Join our 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls. Enough is enough.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”

The 16 Days of Activism campaign is an annual international initiative that commences on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and concludes on December 10 (Human Rights Day), highlighting violence against women as a pervasive breach of human rights worldwide

Background and Objectives:

The campaign, launched in 1991, aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls through:

– Creating awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and its roots
– Sharing information on programs addressing GBV and gender inequalities
– Advocating for gender equality to prevent GBV
– Calling for renewed commitment and action

2020 Context and COVID-19 Impact:

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated GBV, with increased domestic violence reporting, restricted access to services, and heightened economic vulnerability for women and girls.

Key Messages:

– GBV reporting has spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic
– Prevention efforts should focus on transforming norms and behavior
– Better data is needed to address GBV
– Promoting gender equality can prevent GBV
– Women’s participation in decision-making processes can help prevent GBV

Call to Action:

Join the 16 Days of Activism campaign to:

– Fund essential services for GBV prevention and response
– Prevent GBV through national zero-tolerance policies and social mobilization
– Respond to GBV with adequate services and criminal justice
– Collect data for improved GBV services and programs
– adopt to Child to mentor, educate and empower
– Report abuse and do not compromise justice
– support NGO’s working on this project
– provide welfare package and protection for victims of abuse

Together, let’s work towards ending gender-based violence.

Source: United Nations

Mandy Demechi -Asagba
President
African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
https:/awla.international
www.awlanigeria.org
Facebook: African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
Instagram and linkedin

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The theme for this year is ‘PRESS FOR PROGRESS’, Progress is simply defined as the process of improving, developing or getting nearer to achieving or completing something or taking a step forward. That is why we are here to call for gender equality as regards to Education, equal employment, equal opportunities, equal access to resources and equal power to inGuence decisions made in their society

For us in AWLA Nigeria, the Press for Progress mantra involves:

1. Speaking out against any form of discrimination
2. Saying NO to all forms of violence
3. Saying NO to stereotypes
4. Saying NO to harmful culture, values and
5. Saying NO to Traffcking7 in Persons
6. Saying NO to any form of injustice and indignity to
7. Teaching women their rights and invoking the Laws to protect and promote their interests.
8. Being concerned about women’s access to good healthcare and essential services
9. Encouraging women to be their sisters’ keepers and advocate.
10. Empowering our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers to educate their children.
11. Strongly condemning the kidnapping and abduction of Chibok/Dapchi girls while imploring the Federal Government and Security Agencies to bring back these girls safely be proactive and guard against any such further reoccurrence
12. Appealing to our women not to shy away from vying for elective positions in Enough of ‘siddon look’ and or ‘God dey’ syndrome
13. Engaging the Legislature and Executive arms of government to make women-friendly laws.
14. Generally becoming active citizens and working towards SDG 12 of the 2030 Sustainable Development

May we all continue to Press for Progress by partnering with AWLA Nigeria and AWLA AFRICA to positively impact more lives.

WE ARE SET TO PRESS AND KEEP PRESSING FOR PROGRESS

Happy International Women’s Day!!!

Long live Nigerian Women!

Long live African Women!

Long live Women all over the World!!

Long live Nigeria!

Mandy Asagba President

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