REPORT OF THE NATIONAL FORUM ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN IN POLITICS

The publication is another report of the meeting of members of National Forum on Affirmative Action (AA) for women in politics, in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The meeting, which deliberated on the conditions of women in politics, tries to examine the challenges of women in politics. The book also analysed the contributions made by various participants collectively and individually.

   
  WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE - A Newsletter
 
Women in Public Life, a Newsletter Published by GADA is one of the outcomes of a series of activities that was aimed at building the capacity of Nigerian women for greater and more effective participation in the political transition process from military to civilian, which started in 1996. Like their counterparts in most parts of the world, Nigerian women have long been virtually excluded from decision making whether in the family or in the community and national life. And since women are usually denied access to the mainstream media and women’s issues when featured at all are kept off the front pages, a special publication such as Women in Public Life is expected to enhance the advocacy efforts of those who strive to bring gender issues to the fore.
   
SUPPORTING WOMEN’S ENTRY INTO POLITICS AND GENDER EQUITABLE GOVERNANCE
 
This report is an expose’ on the male-dominated political arena of Nigeria, right from the colonial period. It notes that the Nigerian political system de-emphasizes human rights, the rule of law and good governance. This publication, which is the outcome of a project for women of four political parties in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State, Nigeria argues that, for change to occur in our political system, there is an urgent need to influence the emergence of a critical mass of women political leaders in subsequent elections in Nigeria. Apart from analyzing the situation it also includes some recommendation for the effective implementation of a gender sensitive political system.
   
‘A POLITICAL AGENDA FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN’
 
This publication is a guide to political empowerment for Nigerian women in the pursuit of their advancement and the development of Nigeria in general. The process that from which the agenda emerged had over five hundred women from every part of the country in attendance at the three summits and related regional meetings. The publication highlights the demand of women for equitable representation and participation in political processes, the removal of all legal and cultural barriers to such participation and the mobilization of women to use the political system in order to create a society that addresses their needs and rights. A re-print of this publication was recently produced in 2005 as a memorandum to the National Political Reform Conference.
   
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM DEBATE SERIES
 
As part of contributions to the on-going call for reformation of the Nigerian 1999 constitution Gender and Development Action (GADA) with the support of Heinrich Boell Foundation mobilized partner organisations to examine issues that need to be reviewed in the constitution. These issues eventually became twelve publications, some of which are highlighted below.
   
  FEDERALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF CITIZENSHIP IN NIGERIA’S MULTI ETHNIC STATE
 
The multiplicities of Nigeria’s ethnic groups have always been a source of concern to any issue that has to do with the nation, especially as it concerns the 1999 Constitution and how this multiplicity could be reflect in the constitution in such that every ethnic group would be accommodated in a way that will reflect the multiplicity of the society. The publication examines the question of multi-ethnicity and citizenship asking for national discourse by all stakeholders of the Nigerian federation.
  AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
 
Affirmative action talks about the removal of artificial barriers especially as it concerns women and minority groups, provision of equal opportunities without prejudice on the same platform for both male and female. The publication talks on the effectiveness of affirmative action in equalizing gender opportunities, it did not also fail to ask who the agent of revolutionary would be.
  SAFEGUARDING WOMEN’S RIGHTS UNDER THE SHARIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
 

The publication also argues out the provision for women under the sharia law it went further to examine the situation of women especially as it concerns the criminal aspect. It explains further, on the stand sharia law as it concerns women and reasons behind some of the issues concerning women in the law.

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