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Tag: FIDA

  • ‘FIDA committed to fighting intimate partner violence’

    ‘FIDA committed to fighting intimate partner violence’

    International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Anambra state has restated its commitment to the protection of women and children.

    Chairperson, Amara Muojeke gave the assurance at the 2025 FIDA week Award Day themed, “Unmasking the Pain: An Exploration of the causes and consequences of intimate partner violence among adults”

    She also reassured her organization’s steadfastness in addressing root causes and far-reaching effects of intimate partner violence.

    “As an organization devoted to the protection of women and children, FIDA remains steadfast in addressing root causes and far-reaching effects of intimate partner violence.

    “Today’s gathering offers us an important platform for dialogue, reflection and renewed action,” she stated.

    Muojeke who congratulated the awardees for their contributions to justice, service and societal development, also commended the cooperation and dedication of their members to the association’s ideals.

  • ‘FIDA committed to advancing women inclusion, representation’

    ‘FIDA committed to advancing women inclusion, representation’

    International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has restated its commitment to advancing women inclusion and representation in leadership and political processes in Nigeria.

    Country Vice President, CVP – Eliana Martins Esq. stated this in Awka, Anambra state at a one day state level advocacy towards building consensus and consolidating memoranda on the constitutional reservation of special seats for women in Nigeria’s legislative houses.

    Eliana, represented by Chairperson, FIDA Anambra Branch, Amara Muojeke said the seat reservation proposal constituted part of efforts by the group to increase their participation in Nigeria.

    She however said the push is not a demand for privilege, but demand for fairness and recognition of their unique contributions to governance, peace-building, and development.

    She said, “FIDA Nigeria remains committed to promoting, protecting, and preserving the rights and dignity of women and children.

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    “Today’s meeting demonstrates a collective desire to ensure women are not only seen but heard, represented, and given a seat at the table where critical decisions about our nation are made.

    “The constitutional reform process currently ongoing presents a rare and strategic opportunity to institutionalize mechanisms for inclusion, equity, and justice.

    “The push for reserved seats for women is not a demand for privilege—it is a demand for fairness and a recognition of the unique contributions that women bring to governance, peacebuilding, and development.

    Manager, Administration and Human Resources, FIDA, Ezinwa Eberechukwu expressed women’s preparedness to fill the seats as long as they were made available for them.

  • FIDA to victims of gender-based violence: speak up, utilise legal protection

    FIDA to victims of gender-based violence: speak up, utilise legal protection

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has called on women who are victims of gender-based violence (GBV) to speak out and take advantage of the numerous legal provisions designed to protect them.

     Speaking during a media parley over the weekend, the Chairperson of FIDA’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, urged victims to trust the legal system, even if justice may take time.

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     “Justice may not come as fast as they want, but they should keep faith because it is better to pursue justice than to settle with abusers, who often become repeat offenders,” Onyenucheya-Uko stated.

      She highlighted the importance of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAP) Act of 2015, which offers protection against violence, including domestic abuse.

     Onyenucheya-Uko noted that FIDA has been a strong advocate for the enforcement of the Act to safeguard victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

  • Women lawyers seek religious leaders’ support in fight against GBV

    Women lawyers seek religious leaders’ support in fight against GBV

    The International Federation of Women Lawyers Ekiti state chapter has urged religious leaders to support the fight against gender-based violence against women and girls in the state.

    The FIDA state chairperson, Barrister Oyinade Olatunbosun made the charge on Wednesday, October 16, in Ado-Ekiti, during the opening ceremony of the two-day annual dialogue on GBV against women and girls.

    Olatunbosun who stressed the need for collective attention and advocacy to end the scourge of Gender Based Violence said that religious leaders have a critical role to play in nipping the menace in the bud.

    She explained that the religious leaders through their platforms could help raise awareness about all forms of domestic violence against women and girls being influential authority in shaping attitudes.

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    Olatunbosun noted that the dialogue becomes necessary as most cases of GBV against women and girls are being shielded based on cultural and religious factors.

    She said the annual dialogue, which was supported by Ford Foundation, was to strategise with the religious leaders on how to curtail the factors that promote gender-based violence against women and children in Ekiti.

    The Coordinator of the Ford Foundation Project, Rita Abba said the dialogue was aimed at identifying factors promoting GBV and providing religious leaders with relevant skills and knowledge to become advocates for change.

    Abba lamented the increasing cases of GBV in society and said the ugly trend in violence required increased efforts from all stakeholders including religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil societies, and the general public to checkmate it.

    The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ekiti state chapter, Emmanuel Aribasoye called on religious leaders to speak against the menace through their preaching.

    He also urged the state government to intensify efforts to address the issue of GBV, saying that unless practical steps are taken to protect the women and girl-child, the nation would be the worst for it in the years ahead.

  • FIDA, Canadian agency urge Bayelsa govt on gender-based violence

    FIDA, Canadian agency urge Bayelsa govt on gender-based violence

    International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), with support from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), yesterday held a workshop in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, on policy influencing and advocacy for women-led organisations/women rights groups. 

    The National Programme Officer of FIDA, Mr. Fikih Obaro, said the programme was to enhance the capacity of women-led organisations/women right groups on how to influence policies and advocate gender response policy.

    He said since the election was over and it was time for governance, it was imperative to equip women with the right skills to start the interactions and start setting the agenda for the new government and new administration towards including gender issues in the policy direction of the government from 2024, when the new administration begins.

    Obaro said it was expected that the women would develop an advocacy plan after the programme to influence government policies and programmes.

    He said: ‘’We believe that by the time we have enhanced women participation and representation in governance, issues of gender will be more prioritised and have appropriate budgetary allocations that can tackle gender issues.

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    ‘’We believe we have the right audience. We believe we have the right people. These persons are people that have worked on issues for quite some time in the state. However, we believe there is need to shape the ideas and directions, which we believe will influence policy direction of gender issues in the state.

     ‘’One of the fallouts of this programme is for them to have an advocacy plan they will need to implement in conjunction with the state government in ensuring its implementation. Since we have representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, we believe state and non-state actors will be able to set agenda for the state government.’’

    Mrs. Siya Daniels of the FIDA said the purpose of the programme was to enlighten women groups on the need to ensure effective policies were made by the government to empower women in general.

    ‘’This type of programme is effective because once you have the targeted group and they are trained, the belief is that they will after the training educate others and rally support to drive the women’s cause on the need to empower them in the society. This will also include making policies and addressing gender-based violence and girl child issues.’’

  • FIDA, Canadian agency train  community leaders on violent-free polls

    FIDA, Canadian agency train  community leaders on violent-free polls

    Ahead of the November 11 governorship election in Bayelsa State, the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) have canvassed for a violence-free, fair and credible elections in the state.

    FIDA and CFLI  yesterday  organised a capacity building workshop for community leaders on prevention and response to violence against women in elections in the state.

    At the workshop  in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, many first-class monarchs, community leaders, female lawyers, media practitioners, academics and other participants called on the security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political actors to ensure the forthcoming poll is free from violence, particularly against women and the People Living With Disabilities (PWDs).

    The Country Vice President/National President, FIDA, Mrs. Amina Agbaje, said the workshop was being implemented in Bayelsa State.

    Represented by the Bayelsa Chairperson, FIDA, Mrs. Deme Debra Pamosoo, Agbaje said that women constitute a powerful electorate with millions of votes in Nigeria, but wondered why only few Nigeria women emerged as candidates of political parties at the last 2023 general elections.

    Agbaje stated: “For instance out of 18 candidates contesting for the coveted seat, only one was a female amounting to about 5.5 percent representation.

    “Furthermore, from the 1,101 candidates contesting for 109 seats in the Nigeria Senate, only 92 from this number were females representing about 8.35 percent.

    “Similarly only 286 persons out of 3,111 candidates contesting for 360 seats in the Federal House of Representatives were females amounting to about 9.2 percent representation.  Cumulatively, only 1,557 females constituting about 10.17 percent contested as candidates for all positions in the 2023 general election.

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    “However, in spots of this progress recorded, women’s participation in the elective positions has been minimal and has multi-dimensional implications for the democratic project in Nigeria and for the continuing quest for gender equality in Africa’s biggest economy.

    “With gender issues and women’s political and economic empowerment taking center stage on the global arena, Nigeria appears intent on maintaining its position at the bottom of the ladder of women’s political empowerment. “Recent data indicate that women’s rates of participation in formal decision-making remains one of the lowest on the continent and across the world with women occupying an abysmal 5.6 percent of all elective positions at both the national and subnational levels.

    “It is on this premise that this capacity building workshop is being organized towards enhancing women and women with disabilities’ participation and representation in politics and governance in Bayelsa State through the 2023 Bayelsa off-cycle gubernatorial elections.

    “Therefore, this workshop will equip community leaders with the required knowledge in identifying issues that trigger violence against women in elections towards forestalling their participation at the November 11, 2023 off-cycle governorship election.”

    She also said the workshop aimed at  establishing  referral pathways between the communities and leading security agencies in providing effective response to violence perpetrated against women while building a community protection system for indigenous women and the vulnerable population of Bayelsa State.

    She appreciated the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives for providing the much needed support towards the conveyance of the workshop as well as the participants for their contributions towards advancing free, fair and credible polls in the state.

  • NLS praises FIDA over promotion of women lawyers, child rights

    NLS praises FIDA over promotion of women lawyers, child rights

    The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has praised the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) for promoting the rights of women lawyers.

    NLS President, Kunle Ogunba (SAN) stated this in a message sent to the association for successfully hosting FIDA Africa Regional Congress in Abuja.

    He described  the conference of FIDANS from across Africa as a huge success.

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    The NLS was represented at the opening session of the congress by its Publicity Secretary; Mr. Bayo Akinlade who interacted with FIDA members from Nigeria and other African countries.

    Akinlade told the congress of the  women lawyers that the President of NLS is inspired by FIDA and the role it plays in promoting the rights of women and children in Nigeria.

    He said: “NLS hopes to collaborate with FIDA in future to promote these rights and to ensure that the legal framework in the protection of women and children’s rights are strengthened.

  • FIDA condemns child abuse, urges government to prosecute offenders

    The International Federation of  Women Lawyers (FIDA), Lagos State chapter has condemned rising cases of child abuse across the country.

    It urged the government to prosecute all suspected offenders as a deterrent to others.

    The group spoke against the backdrop of the recent case of a woman who locked up a 10-year-old boy in a dog’s kennel in Lagos as punishment.

    Its chairperson, Mrs. Philomena Nneji, who spoke for the group, said news reports suggest that child abuse has been on the rise across the country.

    She said: “It is very disheartening that children are seen on the streets hawking, begging and, more often than not, used as house helps in many homes.

    “The 14th day of  August  2019 was a day of horror for Lagos residents as well as other Nigerians when the  video of one Mrs. Onyinye Mbadike torturing a boy of 10 went viral on social media.

    “The video also showed Mrs. Mbadike locking the boy up in a dog’s kennel, thereby subjecting the boy to share space with dogs.

    “This is  not the first time  hapless children have been unjustly maltreated, beaten, or injured by their supposed  relatives or guardians over trivial issues  such as  house chores, eating, hawking, etc.

    “The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA),  Lagos State chapter, condemns the barbaric and wicked act of Mrs. Onyinye Mbadike, who does not have  respect and feelings for mankind.

    “In matters regarding children, the interest of the child is always of paramount importance under the law and therefore should always be respected by all and sundry.’’

    She  regrettable that “children are easily subjected to  torture, gruesome and inhuman  treatment in the name of discipline.

    “Such treatment, in most cases,  end up leaving indelible marks on children in utter disregard of the provisions of the law.

    “These are heinous crimes against innocent children and, therefore, totally unacceptable.”

    The group, she added, “unequivocally… abhors and condemns such inhuman treatments in all its ramifications.

    “We recommend that concrete steps  be taken to curb this menace in our society.  We are very passionate about women and children and have zero tolerance on issues of  this nature.

    “As an organisation that promotes, protects, and preserves the rights and wellbeing of indigent women and children, particularly in Lagos State,  we  demand for justice for this  10-year-old boy.

    “Consequently, we appeal to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in  Lagos State to use his good offices to expedite action in the investigation, arrest, prosecution  and bringing  the perpetrator of this heineous crime to book  to act as a deterrent to others like Mrs. Mbadike.

  • FIDA advocates stiffer punishment for sexual offenses

    Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Chairperson in Ondo State Mrs Bola Joel-Ogundadegbe has called for laws that would provide stiffer punishment for sexual offenses.

    Speaking to newsmen during a peaceful protest at the Governor’s Office, Akure, Ogundadegbe said such laws would stop incessant rape cases in the state.

    Members of the association carried placards with inscriptions: “Violence against women is intolerable and inexcusable” and “Say no to rape”.

    Other inscription include “Save our girls; protect our girls; Abuse, rape must stop in Ondo State; and Let rape carry death penalty”.

    The chairperson called on the state government to control the increasing rate of rape cases, adding, “Our girls are being raped on a daily basis. Even three month old babies are not spared.

    “We are proposing castration of rapists: When they are castrated, they won’t have anything to use to rape anymore.

    “That is what we are advocating because of its alarming rate in the state. We are calling the governor to come to our aid.

    “We want a sexual offence law that will make the process of prosecution speedy.”

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation Mr Yemi Olowolabi while receiving the protesters described rape as a crime against humanity, which the state government would not allow to continus.

    He said the peaceful protest by FIDA was a salutary advocacy and a complementary enlightenment against the illegal act.

    The commissioner said the state government would guarantee the rights to life of citizens of the state.

  • FIDA, NOA seek end to killings in Plateau

    As Nigeria celebrated its Independence Day yesterday, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have called for an end to the killings in Plateau State.

    In separate interviews yesterday with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos, the state capital, the organisations expressed optimism that mutual respect would foster unity and forestall further killings in Plateau State and other parts of the country.

    FIDA’s Chairperson in Plateau State Mrs Mary Izam said Nigeria at 58 was worth celebrating but could further progress if Nigerians learnt to live in peace and harmony.

    She said: “Nigerians should refuse using religious and ethnic diversity to destabilise the nation. We want a new Nigeria where improving the quality of lives of the people is our major priority.

    “We condemn the killings of innocent lives in the recent attacks in Plateau and other parts of the country, as every life is sacred and valuable in this country.”

    The FIDA official also praised the security agencies for their tireless efforts in this critical period of the country.

    She called for more synergy between them and community leaders in addressing security matters.

    Izam also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu, the only girl still in captivity out of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls abducted in February.

    The FIDA chairperson said she has a right to liberty as a Nigerian citizen.

    Also, the NOA director in Plateau State, Mr Bulus Dabit, said the drivers of crisis in the stae and other parts of the country were not religious people but persons with criminal intents.

    He said: “It is unfortunate how these miscreants easily mobilise the religiously inclined and responsible citizens to perpetrate their agenda in order to undermine our collective security.”