By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – As the world celebrates the International Women’s Day, rural women in Plateau State have been urged to challenge negative happenings in their communities and choose to actively participate in activities that would engender peace and harmony in the State.
This is even as the first female Senator in the State, Professor Nora Dadu’ut while celebrating women, called for more opportunity for women in the political space saying, “I am proud of women of Plateau, women deserve more opportunities in politics. Our women also deserve support and encouragement to participate without discrimination in governance and public affairs in general.”
At a symposium organized by the Centre for Advocacy of Justice and Rights, CAJR in collaboration with the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development with support from USAID/NERI to discuss with rural women on issues affecting women, diverse speakers called for inclusive decision making processes, governance among others.
READ : Restructuring identified as means to curb insecurity
State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rebecca Sambo decried negligence in families, abuses, rape, domestic violence among others against women and girls citing that “just last week, six children were rescued from Lagos to Jos, four underage girls and two boys who were trafficked for child labour,” and challenged women to speak out and not die in silence.
Also, the Director of CAJR, Etti Peter, stressed that the IWD is “an opportunity to for women to discuss women issues and continue to push for inclusion in key issues affecting women.”
Advertisement.
Professors Rahila Gowon and Patricia Lar spoke on empowering women in fight against sexual and gender based violence as well as the importance of women leaders as the panacea for equal participation and decision making in peace building and governance respectively.
HRH Rim Adamu appealed to his counterparts in the traditional councils to engage women and give them the pride of place in community administration.
