Patiene Akpuru
17 July 2008
Lagos — Director, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, yesterday called for strict punishment by the government for the violation of the rights of women and children.
Speaking on "Women and Children Rights in Nigeria," at a lecture in Lagos in honour of late Prof. Jadesola Akande organized by Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as part of its 2008 A Annual Law Week, Owasanoye described late Prof. Akande as a great crusader for the rights of the downtrodden women and children. She added that the offered free legal services to women, and pursued, with vigour, the constitutional recognition of the rights of women in Nigeria.
He however regretted that despite being a signatory to about 10 laws designed to protect the rights of women and children, Nigeria was yet to ensure that such rights are guaranteed in practice.
"The prospects and challenges facing women and children have a direct link with political and economic stability. The inability of the nation to make giant strides since return to civil rule almost 10 years ago tells more on the faces of the vulnerable than anywhere else. The problems of children in particular have widened with the increase in the number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, social conflicts and emergencies," Owasanoye further noted.
He explained that as a result of the absence of statutory protection against domestic violence, women have remained largely susceptible to domestic violence, adding that political participation of women in elective positions has been very weak and unsatisfactory.
"Women's participation remains hinged on appointments that fall far less of the affirmative action request of 30 per cent. The violent and nocturnal political culture that we are associated with continues to estrange women from its folds," he said.
Owasanoye attributed the nation's inability to realise the rights of women and children to increased poverty, lack of political will to enforce laws and policies and inadequate public education and enlightenment on the rights of women and children.
Also speaking, chairperson of the International Federation of Finale Lawyers (FIDA) Lagos chapter, Mrs. Sylvia Shinaba called on parents to listen and believe their children, in order to save them from sexual predators, who she said often turn out to be very close relatives.
Shinaba explained that ensuring the3 rights of women and will not take away the rights of men, saying that they are all human rights guaranteed under the constitution.
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