The UN System’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence for (GBV) 2020 may have come and gone but echoes of the advocacy campaign tagged: ‘Walk in Her Shoes’ by the Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, continues to resonate, CHIZOBA OGBECHE reports.
The UN System’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence was observed from 25 November to 10 December, 2020, with a global theme: ‘Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!’.
The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organising strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE campaign) called for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovations.
Nigeria joined other member countries in the marking this year’s days of activism with government at all levels and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) packaging programmes in line with the global theme.
‘Walk in Her Shoes to End SGBV’ by the Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, is a unique advocacy concept to depict the pains and struggles of the average Nigerian woman in a male dominated society and advocate for the protection of the rights of women and girls.
The campaign attracted the attention of the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; the Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Barr Clement Nwankwo; and other rights activists and prominent journalists.
While flagging off the campaign, Hon Onyejeocha said it was a privilege to join her voice with that of all the good people of the world against SGBV.
The lawmaker noted that men were also being abused, but most men in such abusive relationships were ashamed to speak up for fear of the stigma and ridicule.
“Some men are being beaten by their wives on daily vasis; some men have been cowed they can’t talk when their wife is around; and this is common in the rural communities but most of these men can’t speak up for fear of being called names.”
The deputy chief whip, who was the special guest of honour, tasked states and local governments to join the campaign to curb SGBV by providing funds and support to those who are working to eradicate the menace.
While appreciating the NUJ and the PGI for coming up with the concept for the campaign, she said the theme was apt because it gives the men the opportunity to experience what the women go through so as to appreciate the women in their lives and others.
“Walking in her shoe is apt because it will help the men appreciate what it means to be a mother, who has to wake up early in the morning, provide food for the family, get the children ready for school, care for the husband and herself as well as the home.
“There is no excuse for a woman not to meet up with these responsibilities, even as a politician and law maker my family has expectations from me that I have to meet. There is no excuse.
“I urge everybody, especially the men to walk with the women and understand that the women don’t want to replace them. What we want is to be help mates like the Bible says. We can’t do anything less than to help you and it is on record that most men who are not doing well are the ones that have put their knees on their women’s neck.
“In the case of such men the women can’t know what they are doing. They hide things from the women who have the wisdom of God and are discerning. On the other hand, the men who bring in their wives in their planning and activities are the ones who make progress.
“Any woman who is happy prays for the husband to succeed. It’s a loss for a man not to treat his wife like a wife. If you decide to wear her shoes you will not dare do what you do.”
She decried the fact that most women in abusive relationships don’t speak out and urged that women should start speaking out.
“There is nothing wrong in speaking out and talking to people who will listen with empathy not people who will mock and gossip about you,” she added.
The law maker pledged her support, especially as it concerns laws affecting women; however, she argued that the problem was not the law but political will to do the needful.
“The judiciary needs to be up to speed and ensure that justice is done and seen to be done in every situation
Our laws are not obsolete. We don’t execute or implement them effectively. Our job is simply law making but the laws have to be implemented,” she declared.
Similarly, the minister of women affairs while speaking at the ‘Walk in Her Shoes’ rally to mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism, appreciated the PGI and the NUJ for the initiative.
She appreciated specially the Chairman of the NUJ, FCT Council. Emmanuel Ogbeche, who welcomed her while wearing a woman’s shoes.
According to her, “For men to walk in our shoes we are making progress. It speaks volumes for the, to try walking in our shoes. You have done noble.
“We need to hear more men speak about rape and condemn it because without the voice of the men we can’t achieve much.
“We complement each other right from creation because the man couldn’t stay alone God created a woman to be his companion. Man was made from clay but woman was made from the rib of the man. From the beginning God saw that men could not make it without the woman. We are the spices of life because the essence of creating women is to love.
“I beg all men to obey the will of God by loving their wives; by loving their daughters and caring for them. If your mother did not love you she won’t nurture you to this age. It is love that has brought you this far. So, give that love to your wife, give that love to your daughter so we can make the world a better place. I thank you all for trying to walk in our shoes.”
Dame Tallen, who was the special guest of honour, said: “My dear sister, Esther, I thank you, I appreciate you for this wonderful advocacy. This shows we are really making progress and we will get there one day. We will surely get there.
“I appreciate the NUJ and congratulate the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) on successful election. I want to reassure you that under my watch as the minister of women affairs you will be my partners that we must work together with in order to intensify our advocacy and make much progress because the media are critical stakeholders in our efforts to get to zero tolerance SGBV as well as girl-child education.
“Education is the best empowerment you can give any person or community because an educated mother, an educated girl-child will educate the whole community. They are gifts to the nation.”
Also speaking, PLAC, Executive Director,
Barr. Clement Nwankwo, who was the lead walk advocate, said the men had enormous role to play curbing SGBV as well as empowering the women.
He congratulated the minister for sponsoring and promoting a woman from her home state, to become a senator in the recently concluded election in Plateau state.
Nwankwo noted that women have shown great potential and ability in Nigeria’s 21 years of consistent democracy and in all other spheres of life yet there are not many women in policy formulation and implementation.
He maintained that no country can make progress without women, even as he said PLAC was advocating a special constituency in all the states and FCT exclusively for women thereby creating an additional seat for women in the states and the FCT at National Assembly.
“We will have 37 senators who are in the NASS at all times. This will not stop women against men for running for the other seats. We don’t have to increase the budget rather redistribute the budget to accommodate the new members.
“We are championing advocacy for the men to vote in favour of the new seats because it is not taking anything away from the men. The more women we can have in elected and executive position will help Nigeria.
“It is important that besides the men opening up and understanding that women have roles to play, they should also understand that they can’t continue to dominate by taking their own seats and going ahead to take up seats meant for women.
“There is a lot men can do to help the women. Women demands and deserves being taken care of. The men must share responsibilities with their women and when the women are indisposed to do those duties.”
He urged the men to join hands with the women and walk in the women’s heels so they we can heal the families and the nation
In her remark the National Coordinator, PGI, Barr. Esther Uzoma, commended the men for responding to the calk to walk in women’s shoes, noting that the experience would have been them a glimpse of what women do.
“…Women are strong but delicate. It is a metaphor for all the things the man does. She is a mother, cook and strategic adviser. She smiles through the fears. A woman knows why her baby is crying even when the baby can’t talk.
“For men to walk in women’s shows they should celebrate women in their lives and above all protect the rights of the woman and celebrate every woman today.”
She maintained that violence was not the answer rather the men should talk to their women and whatever happens they should not beat her.
On his part, the NUJ chairman said it was an honour to host the deputy chief whip, the minister, and PLAC executive director.
Ogbeche, who commended Nwankwo for all he has been doing to deep the engagement of the CSOs, noted that the Council had been actively involved in several activities during the 16 days of activism.
He said it was an indication of the union’s commitment and willingness to change the narrative, adding: “We are solidly behind you. The road may be long and task demanding but be sure that there are people cheering you on.
“Yes, there is more to be done especially for women in the rural area and government at all levels has to provide the safety nets to empower the women. As a council we have we are fully gender advocacy and will continue to be involved as much as possible.”
While congratulating Barr Uzoma on her election as the Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, the NUJ chairman expressed hope that issues of women involvement in 2023 general elections would part of her focal points.
According to him, “Without women on the table where decisions are taken they will be left behind. They should not be left behind but carried along and that way they will find their place on the table. I pledge the to continue to walk in your shows so as to understand and appreciate you more and I urge all men to do same.”
The programme also featured road walk as part of the sensitisation and award presentation to PLAC executive director by PGI.
