by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
In continuation of CLEEN Foundation’s “Learning Exchange for Frontline Women Mediation Network” programme in Plateau State on Tuesday, a prominent participant, Barrister Olivia Dazyem, who is Chairperson of the ‘Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission’ in Plateau State, enumerated that “The Commission was established to liaise with the National Human Rights Commission to ensure that the fundamental human rights of everybody in the State is promoted, protected and defended.”
She said, as a baby of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, they will work hand-in-hand to ensure that they change the narrative, because the people lack knowledge about the existence of the rights legal framework for the protection of their rights.
She was speaking, while addressing Women Mediation Network team during the Learning Exchange for Frontline Women Mediation Network in Plateau State on Tuesday, which brought Women Mediators from Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, National and also from 4 local government areas of the state, organised by CLEEN Foundation, at Valada Hotel in Jos.
Barrister Dazyem stressed thus: “In fact, they don’t even know of the existence of the rights, because culture has told us something – that, ‘we cannot talk when people are talking – particularly women.’ ”
She explained further that, the law says, “Gender Commission is to ensure that you take care of men, boys, women and girls; but see, under the same law, the law is aware of the fact that the receiving end of rights violation is on women and children, particularly girls.
“So, we are mandated to create awareness on the existence of these rights. There is a particular section that also enables us to fill an application before court,” she stated.
“When we need to protect the rights of any person and we are passionately committed to ensuring that every one leans he or her voice and, particularly for her; she needs to lean her voice.
Barr Dazyem noted that, “Culture has thought us a lot of things. We have a role to play. Even at the Intersectional level – when the women came down with ‘Resolution 13-25.’ The women can sit down and come up with resolution and decision that can help change the narrative.”
She said, “For us particularly, when we talk about peace, we sleep on our rights, because we want to achieve peace. There is the need for us to promote, project peace; as women, we are the ones that can easily do that.
“When something is disturbing us, we say that culture has told us not to say it; that you are ‘exposing’ the family. Our experience can change the narrative for us, culture cannot intimidate us. We should look at culture into our heads,” she stressed.
Barr. Dazyem commended the Director CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter, for playing a vital role in ensuring that Gender Commission is established through the presentation of a Lecture in a program organised during her time when she was a Commissioner then, at the GIZ, and he was with the League of Human Rights in Jos.
“His passion and commitment of CLEEN Foundation towards changing the narrative of the people of Plateau State and, indeed, the States that are participating in the programme is appropriated,” she noted.
The Chairperson further stated that, “His passion on the challenges on women and girls as they go through dangerous diseases on HIV/AID was the paper presented, which touched the Members of the State House of Assembly and by which they had no option than to pass the bill – which was signed into law during the Governor Jonah Jang Administration.
She revealed that, the last administration (of Barr. Simon Lalong) sustained the struggle, until the current Government of Barr. Caleb Mutfwang gave the note to establish the Commission under Section 11, particularly Paragraph “E” of the law establishing the Commission.
Speaking, while presenting a paper, ‘Strengthening, Capacity Advocacy and Local Engagement for Women,’ the Senior Program Officer, Mr. Benard Ekobay, stated that, “The Learning Exchange was to enhance the effective participation of women in conflict prevention and peace-building and improving public perception of the role of women in peace and security at the national and in the target states.
“It would also enhance legislative engagement and action on WPS, women’s leadership and participation in politics and support women’s mediation capacities network, and action for conflict prevention and peace building.”
He explained that, “Government institutions at the Federal and State levels are strengthened to provide strategic leadership and effectively coordinate the development and localisation of Nigeria’s 3rd National Action Plan and updated State-level Action Plans on WPS.
“Representation and leadership of Women Peace-building Networks and WPS advocates in conflict prevention and mediation are increased State-level structures sustained to effectively lead on integration and accountability for women, peace and security.”
Mr. Ekobay evaluated that, representation and participation of women in political leadership is strengthened, as well as the functioning, sustainability, and linkage between the established Women Mediation networks in Kaduna and Plateau State and across-state engagements, and continued technical support to integrate the networks into a national network of women mediators.