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Women Rights Watch
PRESENTS REPORT ON WOMEN RIGHTS
LAUNCHES BOOK ON VOICES
FOR
SAFIYA
Published in National
Mirror of Tuesday April 17, 2007.
By Olaolu Olaoye
Nigerians recently gathered at the Muson Centre
Onikan Lagos to witness the book launch on Voices for Safiya.
The occasion was also used by the Women’s Rights
Watch (WRW), Nigeria to present its 2006 report on the states of women’s
rights in the country.
The gathering was described by some of the women
as a liberation day for them because it afforded them the opportunity to
know their rights and how to protect it indeed it was a day they claimed
they will never forget.
What women stand for at home and in the society
manifested in the book and in all the speeches delivered.
One of the people who eulogized women at the
occasion was the chairman of the day, Honourable Justice Gladys Olotu of
Federal High Court Uyo. In her opening remarks, she said, “I make bold to
say that this occasion coming in the wake of the seasons when women
activities are being celebrated both in Nigeria and all over the world makes
me very delighted.”
“Last month, I mean March 8th to be
precise; we celebrated the International Women’s Day. I considered today’s
event to be a continuation of that celebration.”
The season for today’s gathering to celebrate
the effort of the WRW in promoting or defending women’s rights in Nigeria,
stated few years ago with a mission to promote and defend women’s rights
through legal services to victims of gender discrimination.
Justice Olotu said further that from the Voices
for Safiya, the aspect of the work of WRW has been highlighted, adding that
everybody was familiar with her story all over the world in 2001 when it
happened.
“She was prosecuted and found guilty for the
crucial offence of adultery under Islamic code. She received the maximum
punishment for the offence which is death by stoning.”
She however stressed that Human Rights
organisation was all over the world including WRW, fought gallantly fro her
and succeeded in saving her neck from the executors block.
According to her, “One of the lessons I drew
from the score card of WRW is that one does not need to be president, state
governor senator or commissioner to impact on people lives.”
Metro Beat noted that the event marked another
landmark in the lives of women not only in Nigeria but also in the whole
universe.
During the public presentation of the report and
launching of he book titled “Voices for Safiya,” Mrs Nogi Imoukhuede, the
project coordinator and author of the book said, “Women’s Rights Watch is an
non governmental with a mission to promote and defend women’s right in
Nigeria and we do this through advocacy on gender issues and rending free
legal services to victims of gender persecution. Our advocacy activities
harness the internet to create awareness on violation of Women’s Right in
Nigeria.
Since 2001 we have moderated an e-newsletter on
the internet and released yearly reports on the state of women’s right in
Nigeria.”
Mrs. Imoukhuede, who is also a legal
practitioner, stated that Nigerian women have suffered violation of their
rights through violence in the home, sexual harassment, rape and defilement,
Marsh and Puritine widowhood rites, female genital mutilation (FGM),
childhood marriages, sexual violence in conflict situations and during armed
robbery attacks, enforcement of gender abused laws, discrimination against
the girl-child, disinheritance of wives and daughters and harmful
traditional practices among others.
According to her, the objectives of this event
is to create public awareness and generate publicity on gender issues in
Nigeria, to promote and defend women’s right in Nigeria by advocating for
gender qualities and equity to sensitize our policy makers on the actual
status of Nigerian women and to advocate for law reforms by elimination of
the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW) 1979 and 1993 and to raise funds for them organization in
order to sustain its vision and activities.
“I am happy to inform you that this book is
dedicated to all those voices who showed that we are all one human family
irrespective of boundaries and belief.
Also, Voices for Safiya is an account of the
event that led to the implementation of Sharia criminal law in Nigeria. It
is about Safiya Hussain who was rescued from being stoned to death. The
people and organization all over the world raised their voices against the
punishment.” She added. |