A non-governmental organization, Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) has condemned the continued exclusion of women from politics and governance at all levels.
Speaking on Monday in Ogbia Bayelsa state, David Wareba, head of human rights unit CEHRD said “women have the potentials to make the society great if they are involved in governance at all levels.”
He said the training, which was organised for women of Bayelsa East senatorial district by CEHRD, with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands, Abuja was aimed at spurring the women to wake up to their rights and responsibilities as active citizens of the society.
He said, “Unfortunately, women have abandoned politics and governance for the men, believing it is men’s affair.”
Attributing the apathy of women towards politics to age long gender discrimination and stereotype, he said “Over the years, it became accepted by both men and women that women have no business with leadership.”
“They should therefore begin to unlock these potentials by joining politics or by aspiring for leadership positions, encouraging women to begin to participate in decision making that affects their lives at all levels of governance.”
Vareba added that with determination, the women could end the age long domination and marginalisation by the male folk.
On her own part, Queen Agba, a gender officer of CEHRD, who co-facilitated the training, pointed out that the apathy of women towards politics and governance was worrisome.
She encouraged women to step out of their closets and join politics, saying that as citizens, it is their fundamental human right to participate in governance. They also have the right to associate with political associations of their choice.
