Violence against women in politics threat to democracy – NGO

By Stanley Onyekwere

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls, has identified violence against women in politics during electioneering processes, as a threat to democracy.

Founder of the NGO, Abiodun Essiet made this assertion yesterday, during a town hall meeting organised by the FCT OI project team of Organisation, which brought together major stakeholders within and outside the Kwali area council.

Essiet noted that despite some policies of the government, like the affirmative action, women are still under represented in almost every sphere of life in the country.

“Violence against women in politics during electoral process, is a threat to the integrity of the electoral process and to the quality of democracy, because it coercively excludes women from having a voice in the political life and governance of their country”, she stressed.

She therefore called for special protection for female candidates, politicians and voters alike to guarantee the sanctity of the election.