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Tag: Joe Okei-Odumakin

  • Nigerian laws encourage rape of children, says NHRC chief

    The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said Nigeria’s anti-violence laws against women and children indirectly encourage the rape of children.

    Odinkalu spoke yesterday in Abuja at a Policy Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence Affecting Young People in Nigeria, organised by Women Arise for Change Initiative, led by Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin.

    While the law specifies life imprisonment for the rape of women, the law, the agency chief noted, only specifies 14 or seven-year imprisonment for the rape of a child.

    He explained that rape is rape, irrespective of the age of the victim.

    Odinkalu faulted the rape of children, saying it is ‘defilement’.

    He said: “It is important that we address the law reforms. It is important to recognise the parity of the crime of rape. Why is it that the rape of children is easier than the rape of adults? It is because our laws create incentives to rape children. If you rape a child, it is not rape; it is defilement.

    “And the punishment for rape is life imprisonment while the punishment for defilement is 14 years or seven years, depending on where you are. That is wrong. We have got to create a serious disincentive.”

    “It is amazing how we have tolerated this – that children can be defiled on a large scale because our laws say so. Why can’t we begin by saying that if you rape a child you go to jail for life?

    “Our laws are outdated on the question of violence. …You saw people forcing objects into a woman’s genital and our law does not recognise that as rape! Something is wrong because we define rape as penetration of a woman’s genital with the male genital.

    “It is only Lagos, for now, that recognises rape for what it is: the penetration of somebody’s genital with any instrument, irrespective of whether it is male genital or not.

    “A lot of these happen in the family: the violence against young people, sexual violence. And violence against women is the violence of people who we are supposed to love, care for and give everything to.

    “In most cases, we tolerate it because we say it is in the family and we should allow it to go for the sake of peace. That is the peace of the graveyard, and it is a peace we must resist.”

     

     

    According to him, steps should be taken to address Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

    Odinkalu called for special training of people to handle violence against women.

    The agency chief said this should not only be seen as criminal justice issue but also as a social, medical and adaptation issue.

    A Women’s Ministry, he said, should be established, and should not just be seen an appendage of the First Lady’s offices.

    Odinkalu said: “Since (the late) Mariam Babangida, I think we have been irresponsible with the way we managed the office or situation of the First Ladies. It is important to recognise that First Ladies have responsibilities and it is good to see First Ladies discharge those responsibilities.

    “We cannot generalise. There are good people in the system and there are terrible people in the system. There are several points of responsibility and there is a failure of responsibility in the system.”

     

    Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku noted that social violence us not only about Nigeria but a global phenomenon.

    According to him, the government has done many things to break barriers against women.

    He called for increased attention in order to place violence against women on the front burner in order to boost development in the society.

    “No society is free of certain injustices, but we need to work on our society to deal with these issues. Government alone cannot do everything. You must have social volunteers to assist in monitoring everything. Laws are not enough, there is need for sensitisation and awareness to win over hearts.” He stated

    The Force PRO, Frank Mba, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, noted that domestic violence has gone beyond the normal definition of crime.

    He said the Police Force has drawn a line between what is called a family affair in violence against women and domestic crime.

    He said officers have been directed not to traet domestic crime as family affairs.

    “Our challenges in the past included a lack of forensic evidence. But we have how developed new investigative models and created new units to handle these gender issues.” He said

    Noting that gender based violence is on the rise in the country, Dr. Odumakin said that the aim if the dialogue is to identify the existing gaps and to help build consensus towards eradication of violence against women and children in the country.

    According to her, the final dialogue will be held in June and a final document will be produced to articulate the position of the group.

     

  • ‘I’ll fight for rights of women with my last strength’

    ‘I’ll fight for rights of women with my last strength’

    Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, human rights activist and president Women Arise for Change Initiative, spoke to Blessing Olisa, on why she will continue to fight for rights of women.

     

    What inspired your relentless fight for the rights of women?

    Passion for justice is what inspired me. I hate injustice I have the violation of women’s human rights.Women are marginalized, they are treated as second fiddle, men like to use them as extra tyre. So there is the need to fight for the rights of the women.So anywhere I see injustice to women, I am moved into action and I will be ready to fight it with the last strength in me.

    How has the struggle been?

    The struggle has been very interesting. The struggle continues because there are lots of challenges confronting the women folk.

    There has not been any respite for us because the rate at which women are abused in Nigeria in the last 5 years is very worrisome. Statistics have it that 2 out of every 5 women experience one form of abuse or the other everyday ranging from physical violence (battering); psychological torture, emotional torture; and sexual violence including rape.

    The rate of violence against women is very alarming. Almost every day you listen to the news or read a newspaper not less than 2 cases of assault on women are reported this shows that women are abused all the time.

    There is no remarkable improvement yet. The rate of women abuse is still very high but this is not to say there couldn’t be improvement but we need to work hard to eradicate it. So the struggle continues until we get victory.

    Every adventure comes with its challenges. What has been yours?

    Yes, there are lots of challenges, the first is the lack of political will on the part of our leaders to implement policies and programmes that will help eradicate all forms of violence against women and that could also enhance women political participation.

    The second in is paucity of funds to really work on women issues.

    Third is the hostile environment of work. People in authority (policy makers) always like to frustrate ones effort at getting justice for the less privileged women.

    How can the struggle for women emancipation reduce or totally erase the cases of rape in Nigeria and by extension, the world?

    Our recent activities bothers on educating Nigerians most especially women on the prevalence of violence against women and girls and how to protect themselves against violence targeted at them (Women).

    Women Arise is also working on gender based violence affecting young people in Nigeria. We are bringing all stakeholders – CSOs, traditional gatekeepers, policy makers and the media together to discuss the prevalence of violence against women so as to develop a national plan of action for a zero tolerance of violence against women. Most especially sexual violence such as rape.

    Women Arise also runs a Women’s human rights clinic where we counsel victims of sexual violence and also link them to support centres.

    What should women and the society do to support you so that the cause can be better advanced?

    Women and the society in general must join hands to work together to stop violence against women.  All hands must be on deck for a zero tolerance on violence against women.

    We must know that injustice to one is injustice to all and collectively we must fight to stop it.

    Women at all level need to be involved in what we are doing-they could support with their time, money and also their professional knowledge.

    There is the rising case of wife battery. What do you think Nigerian wives are doing wrongly that has turned them into punching bags and objects of ridicule at the hands of men?

    I do not think Nigerian wives are doing anything wrongly. What I see is that there is a high level of poverty and frustration has set in so husbands transfer their aggressions on their wives.

    There is a legislation banning violence against women which is pretty silent. Do you think that this legislation is just rusting away, or it is being wrongly interpreted?

    Yes the law exists in Lagos, Ekiti and one other State, but the implementation of the law is rather poor.

    The one in Lagos State lacks practice direction and some of the things the law mandated the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Chief Judge to do are not yet done so there is the need for the full implementation of the law.

    There are not many people who are aware of the legislation banning violence against women. What can be done to increase the awareness and ensure that the law is better understood so that it can be better applied and bring redress to the cases of wife battery and suppression of women?

    Yes, a lot of people are not aware of the law. What we are doing right now is to create awareness among the populace about the existence of the law and how it can be applied.

    On the other hand, we are also engaging government on the implementation of the law while also conducting capacity building programmes with the law enforcement agencies on the application of the law.

    The subject of affirmative action, i.e, 38 per cent women representation in political offices has been adhered to. What should be the role of women in the elections scheduled for early 2015?

    Women groups in Nigeria are already collaborating and networking with each other in order to get more women in elective and appointive positions in Nigeria through the 2015 election.

    There are More Women groups and others who are engaging with political parties through lobbying and advocacy to create space for more women to contest in the 2015 General Elections.

    Many women are unaware of the potentials they have to bring about change in feminine issues. What plans do you have to sensitize women and make them realize that they are equal with men before the law and before God?

    There is a massive awareness programme going on now at the level of our organization – Women Arise for Change Initiative. The programme is a bottom-up approach at sensitizing women to let them put to use their God-given potentials and never to see themselves as inferior to men.

     

  • ‘Ethnic nationalities must dialogue for peace to reign’

    ‘Ethnic nationalities must dialogue for peace to reign’

    ETHNIC nationalities must dialogue for lasting peace in the country, this was the crux of the discussions at a two-day workshop on peace building in Lagos.

    The workshop, which was organised by the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) was tagged : ‘Building Inter-Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria’.

    It was attended by ethnic nationalities from Lagos and Ibadan axis. Human rights activists, such as Campaign for Democracy (CD) President Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, Col. Tony Inyam, Comrade Femi Obayori, Prince Goodluck Obi, Abubarkar Kudu and Comrade Gbenga Awosode also attended the workshop.

    The Executive Director of JODER, Wale Adeoye, said the socio–political and inter-ethnic unrest in the country necessitated the dialogue between all ethnic nationalities.

    Adeoye said when strong affinity exists between these groups, it will be difficult for external bodies like politicians to use members of the groups to cause chaos and fan ethnic hatred especially during elections.

    “Though the nation is sanctified with natural and human resources, poverty remains the grim picture of our nationhood. Since independence, Nigeria has been bedeviled by leaders that lack a national vision that command national status without religion or ethnic colouration,” Adeoye said.

    Adeoye said there have been more than 200 cases of ethnic related violence since 1999 in Nigeria with more than 10,000 Nigerians dying. He said following social unrest caused by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North, Nigeria has also been listed as a troubled zone haunted by terrorism of all form.

    “The purpose of this conference is to reenact hope in a despairing population; we are here to put a stop to the orgy of violence through our own ingenious ways of conflict prevention mechanism, “Adeoye said.

    Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of Women Arise, Dr. Joe Odumakin who spoke on consequences of ethnic violence on women and children lamented that while ethnic warriors perpetuate various unrests, the vulnerable group including women and children suffer the most. Quoting copiously from different war zones around the world, Odumakin said Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities must do their best to shun violence and war.

    “There must be a change of mindset; no one should allow ethnicity and religion to cause strife. Ethnic violence breaks down trusts and destroys the fabric of the family. The women and children suffer the most of the consequences which is why religious and ethnic violence must be stopped through the use of constructive engagement.”

    Other speakers at the event also called for peace among the various ethnic nationalities while urging the members to resist being used by politicians to achieve their selfish ends. Abubakar Kudu, Secretary, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) said:

    “The crisis in Nigeria is fuelled by the government, they know how to start it but they do not know how to end it, politicians are our problem in Nigeria and the various ethnic groups must see themselves as brothers because that is what we really are.”

    Obi, who is the Chairman of the Ohaneze Youth Council, Lagos State branch, said investment in education, food security, youth employment and tolerance can help build a peaceful society.

  • Leaders of ethnic groups promise peace in South West

    ABOUT 200 leaders of various ethnic groups in the South West have promised to work together to ensure a peaceful co-existence in the region.

    The leaders who met under the auspices of the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) with the support of the United States group, the Ford Foundation, interacted for two days in Lagos after which a working group was established to create the mechanism for sustainable peace in South West.

    The organisers said it was the first time that the leaders of the ethnic groups in the South West begin to work together out of their own volition rather than at the instance of political interests.

    The keynote speaker, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, said the conference was imperative at this critical moment in Nigerian history when the nation is facing the challenge of unity and harmony.

    Speaking at the event, the JODER representative, Mr. Adewale Adeoye, said the conference was significant, coming as Nigeria inches close to the 100 years of her creation by the British.

    He said the country fought a civil war that could have been avoided, adding that irrespective of the political challenges confronting the country, the citizens must collectively say no to violence, hate and killings propelled by ethnic prejudices.

    Speaking on behalf of the civil society, Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin said ethnic conflict in the country usually leaves behind bloody footprints on women and children, saying that an interactive meeting of the ethnic leaders would go a long way to re-enact the spirit of brotherhood.

    She said, “It is the first time the leaders of ethnic groups are coming together out of their own free will to establish a workable framework for peace and harmony in Nigeria’s densely populated region.”

    A leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Kudu Abubakar, said that poverty has contributed to ethnic violence in Nigeria.

    Over 100 groups participated at the conference.

  • Activist seeks legal review to encourage more women in unionism

    Activist seeks legal review to encourage more women in unionism

    President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin has advocated a legal review to encourage the participation of more women in unionism.

    She made the call in her paper titled: Mobilising women for active participation in trade union, which she presented at  the Sub-sahara Africa Regional Executive meeting of the Industrial Global Union in Lagos.

    She said the need for women to be active in trade unionism could not be over-emphasised because they are in better position to speak on gender issues than men.

    She said: “It is also important that a  fair distribution of family responsibilities is essential if women are to be mobilised to take up positions of responsibility in trade unions. This will involve a change in attitude from both men and women. Lastly, the use of quotas can be a double-edged sword because parity in law does not necessarily lead to parity in practice.”

    She also said women organisations and groups could create more awareness on issues affecting women in the work place and provide women with effective representation in a union.

    According to her,  women organisations can facilitate mobilisation and organisation of women workers, monitor gender parity in employer and worker organisations as well as provide educational opportunities for women in organising and workers’ right.