From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Side-by-Side Movement Nigeria, Benue Chapter with support from the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development, Centre LSD has appealed for the domestication of the Maputo Protocol which Nigeria is a signatory and passage of Gender Equality Opportunities Bill before the National Assembly.
The groups made the appeal at a média advocacy held in Makurdi on Wednesday.
Co-Chairman, Side by Side Benue State Bishop Cephas Okwori explained that the essence of the advocacy is to ensure the swift passage of the Gender Equality Opportunity, GEO Bill which is before the National as well as the full domestication and enforcement of the Maputo Protocol into Nigeria law and Benue State.
Said he, “Nigeria signed the Maputo Protocol in December 16, 2003 but it has not be ratified and domesticated. It was rectified on June 15, 2004 yet critical provisions of political participation, property rights, protection from Gender Based Violence, GBV and reproductive health all these remain unenforceable without its domestication in our country.
“We are calling on you the media to partner with us to see how the National Assembly can enforce and domesticate this law in our country, he appealed.
Bishop Okwori also said the GEO Bill, first introduced over a decade ago, has stalled repeatedly, delaying legal guarantees against discrimination in employment, education, and public life.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
