The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, has trained 17 accredited election observers in Plateau on observing, documenting and reporting of election incidences of violence against women during elections.
The National President, FIDA Nigeria, Mrs Amina Agbaje, represented by the state chairperson, Mrs Obioma Achilefu at the one-day capacity building workshop in Jos on Wednesday, said that the training was supported by UN Women and the government of Canada.
She said it was to identify, document and report incidences of electoral violence perpetrated against women before, during and after the elections.
“This one-day workshop is for accredited observers on observing, documenting and reporting incidences of electoral violence perpetrated against women before and during the general elections.
“The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) in laying credence to this fact have clearly recognized that elections have triggered outbreaks of violence in which women and girls were victimized.
“This has made women a tool of political harassment and violence before, during and after elections which has made female voters continue to be disproportionately affected by various forms of election related violence or threats.
“This has the effect of keeping them away from the polling stations more than male voters,” she said.
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According to her, the aim is to identify issues that trigger violence against women in elections and getting solutions to avoid such occurrence.
She added that evidently, women constitute a powerful electorate with more than 39 million registered voters in Nigeria and as such should not be ignored.
Agbaje stated that the eradication of political violence was key in advancing women political participation adding that the anticipated outcome of observation and documentation would lead to mass participation of women at the polls.
The National Program Manager, FIDA, Mr Fikih Obaro, said that they were hopeful the findings during the election monitoring would bring violence against women to an end during elections.
He said that the training was being implemented in Kwara, Plateau, Borno and Kaduna State.
The state Programme Coordinator, Mrs Olivia Dazyem, said that the field workers would represent the 17 local government areas in the state to monitor any incidence of violence perpetrated by women and their holistic participation in the exercise.
A participant, Mrs Kyermun Pofi, lauded the initiative, stating that it would ensure that women were carried along in political and electioneering processes. (NAN)
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