YWIPF Calls Women Into Politics
By Prosper Okoye/Mtemdoo Gbagyo –
Cross section of Young Women In Politics Forum (WIPF)
Young Women In Politics Forum (WIPF), has today, called on women in Benue state, to participate as contestants in elections, and in other political activities.
“Yes we can!” “Your Vote, Your Power!” “We Are Stronger Together!” Were the slogans they chanted, as they walked on the streets of Makurdi, to sensitize other women against political apathy.
The Coordinator of YWIPF in Benue state, Member Adiguve, said to women passersby during the walk: “Politics is not a dirty game. Political parties in the state have given us the opportunities to be on the political negotiating table. We must not reject these opportunities.”
Benue State Coordinator of WIPF, Barr. Member Adiguve
Barrister Member said it was time for women to begin to contribute their quota to national development, because “when men and women work together, the society benefits.”
She further mentioned that the forum would be used to promote the candidacy of any woman, who indicates interest in contesting for a political office.
Benue state political climate has overtime been dominated by the male political actors; the state coordinator of Civil Society Organizations, Helen Teghtegh, said, while calling for a “political revolution.”
She said the women would no longer settle for ‘salt and maggi’ given to them by male politicians during election campaigns; but would negotiate with the men using their political strength, which she identified as: “women having greater population figure, compared to the male population in Benue state.
“We are no longer what the society tagged us to be. We have a different mindset. We know it is not about the genital things that we carry that distinguishes us from the male gender, but it is about the capacity. We women have that capacity to become leaders.” Helen stated.
Also speaking, the Benue state INEC Coordinator of voters education, publicity, gender and civil society organization liaison, Margaret Abakume, advised the women to collect their permanent voters’ card.
In her words: “You can not be a politician without a voters’ card. Other women should be mobilized also to get their voters’ card, as the collection will end in June, this year.”
“The collection has to be done before the deadline, as we do not know if the collection date will be extended; because INEC needs time to prepare the voters’ registry for the general elections.” Margaret added.
As the 2011 UN General Assembly resolution on women’s political participation notes, “Women in every part of the world continue to be largely marginalized from the political sphere, often as a result of discriminatory laws, practices, attitudes and gender stereotypes, low levels of education, lack of access to health care and the disproportionate effect of poverty on women.”
Individual women have overcome these obstacles with great acclaim, and often to the benefit of society at large. But for women as a whole, the playing field needs to be level, opening opportunities for all.
Benue State Young Women in Politics is a UN Women’s programmes on leadership and participation guided by a history of international commitments to women’s representation.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women upholds women’s right to participate in public life, while the Beijing Platform for Action calls for removing barriers to equal participation. The Sustainable Development Goals measure progress towards gender equality in part by the proportion of women in parliamentary seats.
Towards these ends, the Young women in politics in collaboration with other Civil society organizations as well as government institutions is posed to provide training for women political candidates to help build their capacities, and offer voter and civic education and sensitization campaigns on gender equality.
The forum is determine to back gender equality advocacy in calling on political parties, governments and others to do their part in empowering women. Other initiatives of the forum include to encourage young men and women to engage in advocacy around making gender equality measures central to public policymaking.
To support the UN Women advocacy for legislative and constitutional reforms to ensure women’s fair access to political spheres as voters, candidates, elected officials and civil service members. There is need for collaboration with UN country teams and work with civil society on programmes so that elections uphold women’s rights, including to vote and campaign free from electoral violence.
