And how exactly are we going to #Bringbackourgirls?

By Jotika C

Its an ordeal of 6 months and counting since April 14 for the 219 girls abducted in Chibok, Nigeria for being in School who unlike the other 57 very brave and slightly more fortunate young ladies managed to escape and reclaim their lives. The abduction that started in the guise of an attack on ‘western education’ has since turned to a religious battle and then to a barter of the girls with convicts associated with the terrorist organization. News-flows of the young girls being forced to change their faith, coerced into marriage and some raped coupled with little to zero positive response from the Nigerian Government and military who claim to be under resourced and stretched, lives seem stuck in a classic struggle with negotiations not going anywhere. 

Contrary to popular belief, #Bringbackourgirls campaign on social media did provide the much need traction, social pressure and international attention to this incident with a host of socially influential personalities weigh into the campaign, It seemed very unlikely at that point that this issue would outlive 6 weeks let along 6 months. However, it did. It was also tough to imagine a national military couldn’t take down a local terrorist group, however that has happened too.

Unfortunately, public memory is short lived both social pressure and international attention got divided between other pressing issues of the Islamic state extremism and Ebola. While Nigeria was offered support from various countries very little has indeed happened on the ground owing to low responsiveness of the Nigerian Government and diverted international attention/ resources. Although the attention on this has eroded, the activists and affected families continue to assemble at the Unity Fountain in the capital city of Abuja to garner support, despite facing tough grounds locally to be allowed to do so.

While the Government  maintains rescue operations are indeed in progress, the consensus is in dis-belief. The families of abducted young girls count on social media and resultant international pressure to greater action on this cause. Past 6 months are evidence to the fact that Nigeria’s domestic actions on this issue have been proved futile and the world needs a reminder….. we still need to #Bringbackourgirls

How we can all help #BringOurGirlsBack

By Jotika C

Even when there’s not too much we do too there is still a little something we can do….

Its week # 4 since over 270 young girls have been abducted from their school in Chibok, located in the north eastern Nigeria in the name of condemning the so called ‘Western’ Education after an open raid on a school on April 14 with threats to sell the girls for slavery. In the name of whatever we call our God, which God or religion can one imagine to be small hearted enough to think of any education form as  more ‘Haram’ [forbidden] than kidnapping children, disrespecting families and young girls by keeping them captive for weeks, attacking their modesty by threatening to sell them. This crosses all thresholds of being disgusting when personal agenda belittles the name of God and Religion. 

We live in the era of social networking and times lines; here is the timeline on this incident:

April 14: Threats made to kidnap girls.
April 15: Over 100 girls reported missing.
April 17: Over 230 girls registered missing.
April 23:  First time #BringBackOurGirls used by UN officials.
April 29: Malala Yousafzai speaks with BBC Radio about the abducted girls in Nigeria requesting for support from the international communities.
April 30: Girls reported being sold at $12. Since then, there has been a spike in international tweets mentioning #BringBackOurGirls in response to girls being sold as slaves. One Million Women March in Abuja, Nigeria, including mothers and families of missing girls, women from Chibok, and hundreds of Nigerians in protest about government and military response. Online Petitions begin to pressure international organisations send aid to Nigerian military.
May 1: Social media campaign takes off in U.S. with celebrities tweeting to #BringBackOurGirls. It was tweeted 268,616 times
May 5: Boko Haram publishes a video taking responsibility of the abduction and threatening to sell the girls on international “human market.” There have been reports of some girls dying of snake bites and some being ill.May 12: Another video was posted demanding release of captive militants in exchange of the abducted girls but without any indication of initiating a dialogue or negotiation as the Nigerian government was hoping. The said video shows girls in grey veils chanting Islamic verses. While 2 girls were singled out and interviewed post their alleged conversion from Christianity to Islam.

Social networks when we need to be connected the most:

We do owe credit to all the hours we spend online that it has made the world so small where the Nigerian victims have been able to mobilize support from people across the globe. There have been numerous protests worldwide against the abduction, government’s response and in support of the missing girls and their families all over social media. While the Nigerian Government conducts the rescue operation there’s nothing most of us can do except becoming ‘Hashtag activists’.

#BringBackOurGirls has been tweeted over 1.5 million times. Increasing interactions on this cause have been counting as visibly increasing international support and pressure towards this cause which has led to the Nigerian government accepting International help. As per reports by BBC the UK, the US, France and China have deployed help on the ground to aid intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism and hostage negotiations.

As we wait and hope the rescue operations do indeed Bring Our Girls Back safe and soon, there is still a little something we can do to #BringOurGirlsBack.

POVERTY IN NIGERIA

In the global economy, Nigeria is known to be one of the largest countries when it comes to the production of oil. Nigeria is rich in mineral resources, one that serves as a major role in the global economy is “OIL.” Poverty is a major global issue affecting all parts of the world especially developing countries. This essay discusses the issue of poverty in Nigeria. Nigeria is a country rich in mineral resources such as oil, yet majority of its population live below the poverty line. This essay provides an analysis of how oil and corruption have played a major role in the poverty rate in Nigeria.

Corruption has played a major role in the economy in Nigeria and the effect on the society in the global economy of the modern world. The biggest single problem Nigeria faces today is the thriving corruption both past and present, which is hanging over its future. It has divided the country and kept two-third of the population under poverty line. Due to the exploited oil that has ruined the local environment and caused huge poverty with people living near the oil rigs, this has caused kidnapping and violence in the Niger Delta. The corruption in Nigeria also has an effect on “ Boko Haram” a Muslim sect/group causing havoc in the North with its recent terrorist attack on the united nation, although Boko Haram which means no western education exists because of its radical view of Islam but the root cause of the existence of boko haram is the vast poverty suffered in the northern part of Nigeria. The governor in a northern state said: Out of 4 million citizen about 1 million are beggars written in the economist magazine, naturally violence is not the way out but this is the height of everything and the only way is to make the rich reason with the poor.

Nigeria as a leading oil exporting country which its vast majority of its revenues has no limit to its resources or its limit to its talent and potentials,  but the fact that the country is rich does not mean that our people are not facing a major challenge. Nigeria as a country has so many problems, to top it up our leaders don’t have respect for the rule of law. Theodor quotes: “ No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it.” Here in Nigeria you will definitely find people who are above the law, they make sure they get what they want at all cost. One reason for the failure to bring offenders to trials is, of course fear concerning who else might be implicated in any testimony given. Corruption is an enemy of democracy, for Democracy lives on trust and corruption destroys trust. Till date corruption is like a deadly virus amongst all Nigerians, obstructing Nigeria’s path towards  development rather than decrease, corruption is becoming a way of life. Since independence, every government has made one promise or the other to make Nigeria a better country (reforms) but all goes to no avail. About 45% of nigerians are still poor, lack access to clean water, consistent electricity, education, job opportunity, unhealthy, exposed to various diseases (HIV/AIDS), lack access to medical healthcare. 

The spread of poverty and break down of infrastructural facility is really becoming alarming also, how leaders are not helping matters to make situations better. The rate of corruption has discouraged countries into lending loans and involve in investments. Except the oil sector; that’s because developed countries are exploiting us (the developing country), reason being that our leaders are not wise enough and can’t apply wit in decision makings. Our national reputation for corruption encourages further abuse since, no one’s reputation suffers through acting dishonestly. Most of our ex-public officials are shameless looters. Since 1970, both military and civilian, have promised to raise ethical standards and eliminate corruption, but any success? no, Corruption seemed to be common in the fourth Republic until the EFCC and other anticrime agencies were created. You may wonder why protesters are not spilled into the streets of Nigeria cities, that’s because the citizens of Nigeria are full of decency and morality. We are a peace making country that’s satisfied with what we’re being fed with rather than making situations worse. There was thrive of a very serious allegation of looting against former Governor James Ibori,which played out in London Courts. The governor took care of himself, but he shamelessly forgot the citizens of Delta State with the flamboyant lifestyle he lived. It is a story that embarrasses a nation that holds itself with so much pride.

One solution which is essential is bringing the criminals to justice, recovery of the money and assets, also the execution of the criminals. These assets cannot be overlooked because they are meant for public funds $4 billion with the Abachas, $12billion with the Babangidas e.t.c. The dangers in failing will lead to a further decline of the national economy, poverty has provided the rationale for outsiders to exploit us. We do not need International interference to makes us realize it, it has been there and if we don’t eradicate it now it might lead to a more alarming situation. Since the political class has become a constant in the nation’s corruption, the Nigeria Diaspora, must take up the challenge.

By Bolanle Adekunle

[headlines] Nigeria: Ground-breaking judgment calls for punishing oil companies over pollution

Amnesty International Press release
17 December 2012
Amnesty International and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have hailed last Friday’s ECOWAS Court of Justice ground-breaking judgment as a “key moment in holding governments and companies to account for pollution.”

In the case, SERAP v. Nigeria, the Court unanimously found the Nigerian government responsible for abuses by oil companies and makes it clear that the government must hold the companies and other perpetrators to account.

The Court also found that Nigeria violated articles 21 (on the right to natural wealth and resources) and 24 (on the right to a general satisfactory environment) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights by failing to protect the Niger Delta and its people from the operations of oil companies that have for many years devastated the region.

According to the Court, the right to food and social life of the people of Niger Delta was violated by destroying their environment, and thus destroying their opportunity to earn a living and enjoy a healthy and adequate standard of living. The Court also said that both the government and the oil companies violate the human and cultural rights of the people in the region.

The Court ruled that the government's failure to enact effective laws and establish effective institutions to regulate the activities of the companies coupled with its failure to bring perpetrators of pollution "to book" amount to a breach of Nigeria's international human rights obligations and commitments.

The Court emphasized that "the quality of life of people is determined by the quality of the environment. But the government has failed in its duty to maintain a general satisfactory environment conducive to the development of the Niger Delta region".

“This judgment confirms the persistent failure of the Nigerian government to properly and effectively punish oil companies that have caused pollution and perpetrated serious human rights abuses, and is an important step towards accountability for government and oil companies that continue to prioritise profit-making over and above the well-being of the people of the region,” said Femi Falana SAN, and Adetokunbo Mumuni for SERAP.

“This is a crucial precedent that vindicates the human right to a healthy environment and affirms the human right of the Nigerian people to live a life free from pollution. It also makes it clear that the government must hold the oil companies to account,” said Michael Bochenek, Director of Law and Policy at Amnesty International.

“The judgment makes it clear that the Nigerian government has failed to prevent the oil companies causing pollution. It is a major step forward in holding the government and oil companies accountable for years of devastation and deprivation.” said Bochenek.

The court affirmed that the government must now move swiftly to fully implement the judgment and restore the dignity and humanity of the people of the region.

“The judgment has also come at a time when oil is being discovered in the majority of the member states of the ECOWAS. It is vital that other states take heed of this judgement, which has laid down minimum standards of operations for government and oil companies involved in the exploitation of oil and gas in the region,” Falana and Mumuni also said.

“The time has come for the Nigerian government to stand up to powerful oil companies that have abused the human rights of the people of the Niger Delta with impunity for decades,” said Bochenek.

“We commend the ECOWAS Court for standing up for the rights and dignity of the people of the Niger Delta. We also acknowledge the important legal contribution of Dr Kolawole Olaniyan of Amnesty International, to the case,” said Falana and Mumuni.

The case was filed against the Federal Government and six oil companies over alleged violation of human rights and associated oil pollution in the Niger Delta. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged: “Violations of the right to an adequate standard of living, including the right to food, to work, to health, to water, to life and human dignity, to a clean and healthy environment; and to economic and social development – as a consequence of: the impact of oil-related pollution and environmental damage on agriculture and fisheries.”

SERAP also alleged “oil spills and waste materials polluting water used for drinking and other domestic purposes; failure to secure the underlying determinants of health, including a healthy environment, and failure to enforce laws and regulations to protect the environment and prevent pollution.”

The Court dismissed the government’s objections that SERAP had no locus standi to institute the case; that the ECOWAS Court had no jurisdiction to entertain it; and that the case was statute-barred. The Court also rejected efforts by the government to exclude a 2009 Amnesty International report on oil pollution from being considered. The report was based on an in-depth investigation into pollution caused by the international oil companies, in particular Shell, and the failure of the government of Nigeria to prevent pollution or sanction the companies.

The suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/08/09 was argued by SERAP counsel, Femi Falana SAN, Adetokunbo Mumuni and Sola Egbeyinka.
The judgment was delivered by a panel of 6 judges: Justice Awa Nana Daboya, Justice Benefeito Mosso Ramos, Justice Hansine Donli, Justice Alfred Benin, Justice Clotilde Medegan and Justice Eliam Potey.

Article 15(4) of the ECOWAS Treaty makes the Judgment of the Court binding on Member States, including Nigeria. Also, Article 19(2) of the 1991 Protocol provides that the decisions of the Court shall be final and immediately enforceable. Furthermore, non-compliance with the judgment of the Court can be sanctioned under Article 24 of the Supplementary Protocol of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and Article 77 of the ECOWAS Treaty.

Katsina Attorney General and his warped, dangerous logic on rape,

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

Published: November 26,2012

Violence against women is a dreadfully brutal and pervasive crime. In many countries, those who are responsible for preventing, eliminating and ensuring accountability for it mostly fail to recognize it as such, tolerate it or simply blame the victims for being violated. On the 31^st Anniversary of the International Day of Action on Violence against Women – 25 November – law enforcement and public officers in Nigeria must commit to a programme of action to change this.

On Friday, 23 November 2012, I attended a workshop of the International Association of Women Judges at the conference room of the High Court of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. The theme of the conference was “Sextortion”. Its aim was to call attention to the various forms of sexual exploitation that women suffer in the public space and inspire a committed search for how the judiciary and the legal process take action to diminish and ultimately eliminate this.

Present at the workshop were senior judges of all the Superior Courts in Nigeria, including High Courts, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court as well as some international judicial experts. The conference showcased the progress that women have made in Nigeria’s legal profession as well as the considerable amount of work that is still needed to eliminate historical discrimination against women in the legal profession and the wider country.

The afternoon panel discussion featured three presentations respectively by a Nigerian judge, a Tanzanian judge and this writer explaining the concept of sextortion, illustrating its various dimensions and offering suggestions as to how to address it. The session was moderated by a recently retired Justice of the Nigerian Supreme Court.

In response to the panel ‘s presentations, Katsina State Attorney-General, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Soho, who was also present at the meeting, offered a spirited defence of “men” and a shocking plea for tolerance of the levels of gratuitous sexual violence in our country. During the course of this prolonged allocutus, the Honorable Attorney-General asserted that “rape is self-inflicted….in at least 90% of cases.”

Three different participants at the meeting, including this writer, publicly pointed out to the Honorable Attorney-General the egregious baselessness of his claim, the obvious insensitivity of it and the clearly adverse implications for victims of rape and other sexual violence in Katsina State, and requested him to withdraw it. He failed to acknowledge this request.

Rape is a vile crime of violence against mostly – but not necessarily or exclusively – women. It grossly violates the physical integrity and dignity of its victims, causes serious damage to public and reproductive health, and injures social cohesion. It is, therefore, evidently outrageous for anyone to say or suggest that such a crime is self-inflicted or to blame the crime on its victims.

Every criminal justice system has a basic obligation not just to recognize rape and similar sexual violence as the vile crime that it is but also to ensure that it is effectively punished. Even in situations of conflict, rape is now well established as a war crime. Victims of such crimes are entitled to expect the state to treat the crime of rape seriously and to provide the necessary care and support to enable them survive its lingering and most damaging consequences.

Victims or survivors of rape in Katsina State, for instance, have no hope of such support, care, remedies or accountability if or where the Chief Law Officer of the territory takes the view that a crime of this seriousness is self-inflicted. This attitude further victimizes survivors of sexual violence and violates the political and legal obligation on government to protect its entire people equally by providing effective remedies for such crimes.

This is why most victims will suffer in silence rather than report rape. It is also why the attitude reflected in the statement by Attorney-General Dan-Soho is a danger to public safety and security. Any Chief Law Officer that harbours this view has a duty to re-consider his position as such because this is fundamentally incompatible with the functions and primary responsibilities of the Attorney-General.

It is worth recalling that since 1981, November 25 has been commemorated globally as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/134 formally recognizing this day as such. The International Day is instituted in memory of the sacrifice of the Mirabal Sisters – Patria Mercedes, Maria Argentina Minerva, and Antonia Maria Teresa – persecuted and ultimately assassinated by suspected agents of the regime of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic on 25 November, 1961.

The globally recognized 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women also begins this week. In recognition of the multiple dimensions of sexual and other forms of violence against women, the 16 Days of Activism include the International Day of Action on Violence against Women and World HIV/AIDS Day on December 1, and ends with the International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

On this beginning of 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women, law officers and leaders – like Attorney-General Dan-Soho – must do more and take clear action to address the multi-dimensional problem of violence against women.

A proper investigation and documentation of the prevalence of sexual violence is needed. Inter-agency capability to ensure accountability for it should be established and health ministries must be involved in the design and roll-out of trauma care initiatives for survivors. Above all, reform of rape laws is needed to reassure victims, enhance reporting of such crimes, recognize that rape happens to both sexes and make it less difficult to hold perpetrators accountable. By dealing firmly with this form of violence in which the perpetrators can often be identified, the country will demonstrate readiness to confront other forms of wholesale violence, such as crimes of terror.

Odinkalu chairs the Council of the National Human Rights Commission

Source: http://premiumtimesng.com/opinion/108607-katsina-attorney-general-and-his-warped-dangerous-logic-on-rape-by-chidi-anselm-odinkalu.html

Child Brides: Stolen Lives of Nigeria’s Girls

Nigeria has some of the highest rates of child marriages in the world. In some areas, particularly the Northwest region, nearly half of the girls in the country are married by the age of 15, often to much older men.

The government has tried to ban marriage under the age of 18 by passing the Child Rights Act in 2003. Federal law, however, can be implemented differently at the state level. To date, only a few of the country’s 36 states have developed provisions to execute the law. Furthermore, Nigeria has three different legal systems operating simultaneously-civil, customary, and Islamic-and state and federal governments only have control over marriages that take place within the civil system. This type of governance makes it difficult to curtail child marriages across the country1. 

The consequences of child marriages are devastating for girls:
“When I was 10 my parents arranged for me to marry in the forest. They pretended it was just a party. But it was a wedding and they sent me away. My mother never told me I was going to be married. They came and took me by force. I cried but it didn't make any difference,” Child Bride, 10 years old2.

Married girls receive basically no education. Only 2 percent of 15-19 year old married girls attend school, compared to 69 percent of unmarried girls1. Lack of education limits girls only to the reproductive roles-submissive wives and mothers. A lack of education also means that young girls lack knowledge about sexual relations, thus denying girls the ability to make informed decisions about sexual relations, planning and family, and most importantly, her health2.

Having children at such a young age is also a serious health hazard. Mothers whose bodies are physically incapable of going through childbirth suffer horrible injuries that leave them physically and emotionally scarred for life. One of the most severe consequences of child pregnancy is fistulas. The Ministry of Health estimates between 200,000-400,000 girls and women are living with fistulas1. Fistula is a condition that leaves girls leaking urine and/or feces and often results in abandonment by partners, family and friends. These girls therefore become stigmatized by their communities and often resort to working in the sex industry as result of being shunned by society.   

Fistula is not the only medical condition that young brides are susceptible to. Young girls are much more likely than unmarried girls to contract HIV from their usually older, polygamous husbands. Married girls have less knowledge about HIV and are less likely to negotiate condom use. They are also unaware that HIV can be passed on from mother to child1.

Despite all these devastating consequences, child marriage still continues to prevail and there is considerable opposition to the law banning child marriage, particularly in Northern Nigeria. This is partly due to families living in poverty who cannot afford to care for their daughters; having notions of morality and honour with a high value placed on a girl’s virginity, and religion. One cleric states that it is difficult to accept banning of child marriages because it is permissible according to religion3.

The way forward is a difficult and challenging path, but a necessary one. A lot can be done to promote later, chosen and legal marriage. Some suggestions include raising awareness of the extent of early marriage and human rights abuse it constitutes; engaging communities through public campaigns, pledges or incentive schemes; and raising awareness for parents, community leaders, and policymakers about the importance and necessity of enrolling girls in schools and completing education.

1“Child Marriage Briefing Nigeria”: Population Council, August 2004. http://www.populationcouncil.org/pdfs/briefingsheets/NIGERIA.pdf
2 “Child Marriage:” Forward: Safeguarding Rights and Dignity. 2012
3 Navai, Ramita. Unreported World: Nigeria Child Brides.2008.

By May el Habachi

Deltawomen's Press Statement

This is in pursuit of a response to the allegations that were proposed by Hon. Okpoko in maligning Delta Women’s image. Delta Women is not a political organization, but is a rights-based establishment that strives to assist the creation of a world that would encourage the birth of free thinking individuals. We neither seek political appointments nor have any intention of going into politics, and we are not funded by politicians.

At the outset, when we heard of the need for a school, we first contacted Hon. Okpoko through phone calls and messages on Facebook. But, he did not answer any. Delta Women were also in his office to deliver the letter.  We waited in his office for 3 hours and there was nobody except one person who told us that the Secretary was away and that he was not authorized to sign on his behalf. We then proceeded and sent a letter to the governor, and Mr. Hon. Okpoko was copied alongside. After that, we called, we sent him Facebook messages, but none were replied to. [All details of conversations are appended at the Enclosures in the bottom of this Press Release.]

After Gov.Uduaghan team went to the village, we made a copy of the findings. These were the hand delivered to Hon. Okpoko’s office where we met with the aforesaid person, John Ejiro, for the second time in his office, who, this time, signed for the letter.

We assert that Delta Women is not responsible for who we meet in the office and who identifies them self as Hon. Okpoko’s employee. We have also publicly published Mr. John Ejiro's number and also made this number available to Urhobo times. Through the mediation of the Delta State DPP Chairman, We and Hon. Okpoko were able to talk. Upon our discussion, we made Hon. Okpoko understand that it was not witch hunting, and that we were not interested in pulling him down as he said. We were only representing the village in their quest to get a school. We are surprised that a statement was released from his office, still claiming such untruths such as that Delta Women had not contacted him or any such. We wish to assert that we do not appreciate false statements that go on to malign the image of our organization, and should the claim continue, we will not hesitate to take legal action.

Signed

Elsie Ijorogu-Reed

CEO/Founder

Deltawomen

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Eroding Society by Destroying Family

The significance of a family is not something one can tangibly put in words. Many a time, I’ve wondered if we live for a purpose, if we have any meaning in our existence, or if we’re just a crazy race that runs about without any direction or reason, and I’ve been inclined plenty of times, to believe the latter. I sometimes walk through the labyrinthine columns of memory, of a time when I was someone else, something else, in some other time, from some other era, in some other place. They have a way, these memories, of slowly growing bigger, and bigger, erupting in a burst of flames like a phoenix, and falling into ashes. And then they lie in wait inside the corner reserved for them in the puzzling enigma that is the mind, ashes, waiting to regenerate sometime later.

Those days, those times, those people, it all really happened, but all we have is a little room in our brains, closed for the most part revisited only some special times. I opened that little door, where those memories were no longer just wispy filaments of silvery grey, but colours, smells and textures. A meal together, sleeping on my grandmother’s lap, watching science in action with my grandfather, plotting a prank with an uncle, deviously stealing crisps with a cousin, shamelessly singing nonsense with another. And before I knew it, I’m here today, when all of those are just yesterdays. But isn’t that the essence of life? That in each moment, you make memories – some that you would cherish, some that you would abhor, but each that will make you who YOU are? That in each of those moments, there’s a story, an emotion, a reason, a life? That in each of those moments, there is an expiry date – that in each of those moments, you had better live it to the fullest, or before you know it, it’s gone.

My nuclear family means so much to me, and that is the same for everyone else that comprises this beautiful establishment. And that is exactly why when I hear of things that happen in Nigeria within the confines of a family, I was shocked beyond limits. 

What brother spurns his sister by spreading slanderous words against her work? What sister wants to pull her sibling down? What mother would ignore her child for years together? What grandparents would put their little granddaughters through the harsh treatment of FGM? It jolted my conscience to know that a family’s “wickedness” is a real thing, in Nigeria. It jolted me to know that jealousy and hatred come first. Not even family, love or filial bonds.

Victims that suffer under the yoke of a dysfunctional and antagonistic family can be driven to depression. Few, very few, exist, who can turn these difficulties into strengths. Sibling rivalry may be normal, yes. But wickedness? Definitely not! Hatred leads to diabolical antagonism – voodoo, witchcraft, slander – you name it, you have it. People kidnap their siblings, or kill them physically or “spiritually”. A culture of silence paves the way for turning a deaf ear to such wrongs.

How can a society hope to evolve if its basic unit is killed in the crib?

By Kirthi Gita Jayakumar

I DIED FOR ONE DAY

            

Blossom walked into the kitchen behind my ten-year old daughter, Gift, with a scowl on her face. They had both just returned from the morning market on Saturday. Gift carried a huge sack on her neck, the load making her sag. Blossom, a thirty year old, held a small nylon bag in her hand and nothing more.

My daughter went on her knees and lowered the sack to the floor.

“If you break anything in that sack, I’ll break your head!” Blossom said between her teeth. My Gift looked up at her and shook her head. She then proceeded to unload the sack, putting things away.

Blossom caught her by the arm and flung her toward the entrance. “What about the other sack?”

“I’m sorry,” Gift mumbled and ran to bring yet another heavy sack.

I never knew my daughter had so much strength. Blossom opened the refrigerator and removed a chilled bottle of sparkling water. She uncorked it and swallowed a healthy gulp, rather in an unladylike manner.

Blossom belched. “When you are through, call me!”

“Yes, aunty.”

Gift proceeded to unload the sacks. She brought out yams, onions, potatoes, and arranged them neatly on the floor, the way I had taught her. She washed the fruits and refrigerated them. Plucked pepper… Oh my God. I had not yet allowed her to pluck pepper…

Gift was humming gently to herself the song, ‘more of you, more of you.’ She washed some of the onions and tomatoes and put them in a large bowl. Then she rubbed her eyes, and let out a scream! Her hand was definitely still peppery!

Blossom rushed in and screamed at her for screaming.

“Pepper in my eyes, aunty!” Gift rubbed both eyes now frantically.

Blossom dealt her a dirty slap and her frail body staggered. “Are you stupid or something? Come on, go and wash your eyes!” She hissed elaborately. “And finish up here before I go crazy for you!” She turned round and bumped into my five-year-old son, Paul. He must have been woken from sleep by all the noise. He was drowsy and rubbing his eyes.

Blossom pushed him out of the way with such force, he fell hard on his bum, and burst into tears. My last baby, three-year-old Sharon walked up too, and Blossom scooped her up. Sharon had always been Blossom’s favourite of my children and she never hid it. I couldn’t fault her. Sharon was so cute, everyone simply loved her.

Blossom turned to Paul and yelled. “Ger up and sharrap! Stupid boy!”

My boy went completely still. Blossom hissed and stomped out of the room. I looked at Gift who seemed to have put herself together and continued to work in the kitchen. When she was sure Blossom was gone, she turned to Paul and hugged him. She peeled a banana for him and the boy smiled in appreciation, and a smile involuntarily touched my lips.

The rest of the morning was painful to watch. Blossom hit out and lashed out at my two older children without provocation, and petted the youngest most unnecessarily. They missed breakfast because Blossom was busy…

My husband, Steve, left for his morning jog and came back late, took a glass of fresh juice, took his bath, and left the house. He had spared the children about thirty minutes altogether when he came for the juice.

Blossom was extra sweet with my husband. She poured him the juice, caught up on events from the previous night; she even touched his forehead, and rubbed his back as he sat to drink the juice. The children loved Steve and crooned around him. Sharon climbed on his laps and took a sip from his juice. He gave Paul a sip as well.

Blossom called Gift out of the kitchen, chiding her lovingly for always wanting to be alone when the family was together. My daughter smiled shyly but her stance was stiff. Since they left for the market at about 7a.m, she had been working. This was eleven! She stood awkwardly beside her father’s seat and smiled at him with her lips but not her eyes.

Steve finished his juice, asked the children how they were and told them to keep praying for mummy. Then he stood up. Blossom pulled him into a hug, and he left the house.

My children had lunch at about three in the afternoon. Blossom had cooked and dished the plain noodles for them. Paul asked for more but didn’t get. Sharon passed her plate to him. As he dug into the food, Blossom snatched it away, and scolded Sharon for feeding her brother’s greed.

“I’m full, aunty,” Sharon said softly.

“Even though,” Blossom said. She took the plate of food to the kitchen and emptied it in the trash.

She had cooked a pot of soup as well. She dished a healthy portion for herself, made eba, and ate.

Later in the evening, she would dish from that same soup for Steve.

When my husband got home in the evening, at about 8p.m, my children had not had dinner but Blossom told him they had, and were already in bed.

What she had done was to flog the two older ones, give Sharon some ice cream and sent them all to bed. Then went to sit in the parlour and wait for Steve to return.

He looked tired and frustrated.

Blossom was all sweet and concerned. She served him semovita with the sumptuous-looking soup, and sat with him while he ate.

Afterward, she cleared up and as she washed the plates, he stood with her in the kitchen.

“How is Samantha?” Blossom asked.

Steve shrugged and sighed heavily. “Nothing has changed. She’s still unconscious.”

“Oh my!” She turned and looked at him. “That must be so hard for you. Have they told you what it is?”

“Stress. Shock… I don’t know. Threatened cardiac. And her blood pressure was very high…” He covered his face and sobbed. “I can’t lose her! God, please.”

I hugged my arms to my body.

The night before, I had slumped. My husband had rushed me to the hospital, and I was admitted in intensive care unit. I was unconscious. I was half-dead, half-alive.

Blossom turned to him and pulled him into her arms. She said soothing words to him. “You’ll be fine. You’ll be just fine. You have nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of you. You’ll be just fine…” She cooed on and on and on. Then she started to press her body closer, and pulled his face down to her. And tried to kiss him.

Steve jerked backwards and took a long deep breathe. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t fuss. “You don’t have to be.”

“I’ll just check in now. It’s been a long day.”

Blossom nodded. “Yeah. You do that.”

“Thanks, Blossom. Especially for looking after the kids for me.”

Blossom smiled. “You don’t ever have to worry about them.”

He took another deep breathe, and went into our bedroom.

Blossom was my friend who had divorced her husband in Port Harcourt, and needing a change of lifestyle, moved to Abuja to start over. They had been married for two years only, and didn’t have any children. She was a successful property broker, but had not yet found a suitable accommodation for herself, though her business was thriving. I had offered to accommodate her in my house. That was eight months earlier.

Tears shimmered in my eyes. I want to come home, God. I must come home if not tonight, tomorrow morning, first light. I need to be back to send Blossom out of my house and my life. She’s evil.

I died for one day and Blossom took over my life. No way. Lord, I have work to do in my home. My children need me. My husband needs me. My life needs me. Lord, help me, please. Save me. For the sake of those lovely children you blessed me with, save me. Help me, O Lord! I want to be with you but my family needs me right now. Save me. I don’t want to die. I want to live. I want to live. I want to live.

“There are tears in her eyes!” A female voice shrieked.

Footsteps followed all over and soon my ICU room was filled up.

“Water…” I whispered. Someone put a few drops on my lips. “Husba…”

“Call her husband!”

*

I was discharged first thing the following morning. My healing was a miracle. I don’t know if all I saw had happened for real or it was my unconsciousness dream. My children never mentioned it though I tried to make them tell me all that happened ‘while mummy was in the hospital.’

Blossom was very sweet to me.

But I refused to be fooled. Why would she still be in my house after eight months, when she could afford any accommodation she liked anywhere in Abuja… Yeah, she was that rich.

I would not wait for my dream to become real. I gave Blossom a week to find somewhere else to live.

Steve never objected.

By Sinmisola Ogúnyinka 

Blogging for Nigeria! The End: Empower? Why not?

To empower, implies, to inculcate a sense of power, a sense of independence and a sense of confidence consequent to the endowed ability of honing the inherent proclivity to stand on one’s own feet.

There is plenty of talk, yes, that women are empowered enough. “We have women in politics.” “Women in Movies!” “Women in Medicine!” “Women in sports.... Women in Space, Even!” But that’s not enough, isn’t it? While these wonderfully enterprising and inspirational women are out there blazing trails, one cannot ignore the plight of several women who still struggle on a day-to-day basis, and something as simple as empowerment eludes them.

Women have an immense and incomparable potential to contribute to economic growth, prosperity and societal evolution. Gender-based violence of any kind, affects women globally, and does not just destroy lives, but actually, winds up breaking the very backbone of society, depriving the world of the talent it urgently needs. Women are, doubtless, agents of change. The innate penchant for being able to manage a household within the confines of a shoestring budget, whipping up a meal despite being desperately in demand from all quarters of a household, keeping a whole house together- women have the ability to do all of this and more. Women can, and are, the champions of a successful society, and the forerunners for global order and peace. Society cannot successfully tackle the challenges that confront it on every front- be it the environment, security, economics, development, and more, if women are not engaged at every level of society.

So why is empowerment the means to do it? In sum, circumscribing women’s participation and leaving a large part of the potential they possess, insultingly untapped, a lot of setbacks come from actually keeping women from participation on equal footing. Women can, and do make a difference. Give them a chance. 

Blogging for Nigeria! Post 6: HOW HAVE NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES RESPONDED WHEN VIOLENT AGAINST WOMEN ISSUES WERE REPORTED TO THEM?

"Violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms... In all societies, to a greater or lesser degree, women and girls are subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income, class and culture."

—Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, paragraph 112

Violence can be defined as an exercise of physical force usually done with the intention to hurt emotionally or physically, destroy and inflict injuries on the victim. Anyone can be a victim of violence but for the purpose of this discussion, the focus is on Violence against Women (VAW) and a look at the ways the Nigerian authorities have responded. Unfortunately, the statistics of such cases and the consequences of violence such as death or permanent body impairments, in addition to the fact that violence against anyone is an act of injustice to any human; has led to a wide interest and advocacy for a reduction in these cases of violence and legislative punitive measures to punish offenders.

According to Heise (2004) Violence against women come in various stages in their lives,

• Prenatal Stage - Prenatal sex selection, battering during pregnancy, coerced pregnancy.
• Infancy – Female infanticide, emotional and physical abuse, differential access to food and medical care.
• Childhood – Genital cutting, incest and sexual abuse, differential access to food and medical care.
• Adolescence- Dating and courtship violence, economically coerced sex, sexual abuse in the workplace, rape, sexual harassment, forced prostitution.
• Reproductive- Abuse of women by intimate partners, marital rape, dowry abuse and murders, partner homicide, psychological abuse, sexual abuse in the workplace, sexual harassment , rape, abuse of women with disabilities.
• Old age- Abuse of widows, elder abuse (which affects mostly women).

The issue of the advancement of women's rights has concerned the United Nations since the Organization's founding. Yet the alarming global dimensions of female-targeted violence were not explicitly acknowledged by the international community until December 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Prior to this time, most Governments tended to regard violence against women largely as a private matter between individuals, and not as a pervasive human rights problem requiring State intervention. In view of the alarming growth in the number of cases of violence against women throughout the world, the Commission on Human Rights adopted resolution 1994/45 of 4 March 1994, in which it decided to appoint the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, including its causes and consequences. As a result of these steps, the problem of violence against women has been drawing increasing political attention (http://www.un.org/rights/ , 2011).

One of several key international groups that have sought to improve the rights of a woman is the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women – CEDAW. CEDAW provides a practical blueprint for each country to achieve progress for women and girls. Providing opportunities for women and girls to learn, earn and participate in public decision-making helps reduce violence, alleviate poverty, build democracies and strengthen economies (http://www.cedaw2011.org). 

The Nigerian government ratification of Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women in 1985 should have theoretically implied that it is bound to fulfil all obligations stated in Article 2 -: States Parties condemn discrimination against women in its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and to this end,, undertake: a. to embody the principle of the equality of men and women in their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law and other appropriate means, the practical realization of this principle; b. to adopt appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women; c. to establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis with men and to ensure through competent national tribunals and other public institutions the effective protection of women against any act of discrimination; d. to refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this obligation; e. to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women by any person, organization or enterprise; f. to take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women. g to repeal all national penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women. 

 Nonetheless, in practice this unfortunately is not the case as CEDAW has raised the concern since 2008, that the Nigerian government is not carrying out its obligations as required. By extension of this abnormality, the weak state of women’s rights in Nigeria has been attributed to the non – domestication of and non – implementation of CEDAW.

Amongst other notable efforts, with the support from the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Nigerian women launched campaign against gender violence. The program included legal and social services for victims and their families, sensitivity training for law enforcement and government officials and community based education activities aimed particularly at young people. This project was launched IN 1998 by UNIFEM and the Nigerian non – governmental Women’s Centre for Peace and Development, named; Social Advocacy Against Violence Against Women (SAAVAW) with funds from UNIFEM’s Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence Against Women.

With reference to  CEDAW’ s  report in 2008, the following issues were highlighted , this was in  relation to how successful the government has been at incorporating key articles of the convention. This is captured against and in relation to violence against women.

Articles 3-4

Most of the socio- economic, legal, and political frameworks needed for the protection and promotion of women’s rights have not been effectively implemented. In early 2007, the National Assembly rejected the Bill for the domestication of CEDAW, which stands as the acid test for gender equality in Nigeria. This has put on hold the process of integrating CEDAW Convention as an integral part of the criminal justice and legal administrative system in Nigeria.   

Article 5

Gender stereotypes continued to be reinforced in Nigeria as series of the agents of socialisation such as the family, schools, churches, mosques, and the media have become custodians as well as disseminators of gender roles, stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory cultures. Girls and boys grow up in Nigerian society to accept male superiority over female and the patriarchal structure has become unquestionable phenomenon. The Teachers, Religious Leaders, Parents, Police Officers and Artistes in Nigeria usually work to promote obnoxious customary beliefs and practices that violate the rights of women. Consequently, customary practices such as female genital mutilation, preference for male-child, and widowhood rites are still prevalent in most parts of Nigeria.  Gender stereotypes in Nigeria are further reinforced by lack of national legislations aimed at disabusing the mind of people of such stereotypes as well as specify the punishment for offenders.

Article 6

Trafficking and exploitation of women and children in Nigeria still go on because the Government only focus on the legal regulation and established an agency National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to check the syndrome while the remote causes of trafficking and exploitation such as poverty, unemployment, Illiteracy, are yet to be seen as important indicators, and yet to be addressed.

Considering that this report was produced in 2008, the next question arises; have there been positive improvements or changes since then? Unfortunately this is not the case because a very recent incident in 2011 has come to reveal. In October 2011, a very worrying event and the most recent case of VAW occurred. A young female university student was gang raped. This rape incident was video taped. Typical of such events there was a widespread clamour for justice by several gender and human rights organisation, persuading the government and the legislative to take decisive actions and bring the offenders to the books.

As gathered from Daily Trust – National Newspaper, a meeting was held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, by key organisations and stakeholders to further discuss the issue of sexual violence as a result of this event and the disturbing and unsatisfactory manner in which the government and key authorities handled the act. The meeting was finalised with action plans to set up a task force that would create a secure avenue where cases of sexual violence can be reported without fear of stigmatisation or persecution. They also decided to develop a paper on sexual violence, which would engage with and sensitise lawmakers on the need to pass the Violence against Persons (VAPP) bill pending at the National Assembly.

As the saying goes “it’s a man’s world”, but I would have to note that there would be no man, if there was no woman”. Therefore there should be a critical reflection and social change in the country with regards to the importance of ensuring and appreciating that a woman’s safety and well-being amongst other important human necessities, is of primary concern to the Nigerian authorities.

In summary, although I appreciate that Violence against Women has witnessed a reduction over the years, as the advocacies have increased and more women have become more educated and financially empowered, hence are able to speak out (although it is still the case that there are some women who are economically empowered, yet experiencing violence in their relationships or workplace, and suffering silently as a result of the fear of social stigmatization). In addition, it is my opinion that Nigerian authorities have been more rhetorical than positively active towards ensuring that the right laws and legislatures are in existence to curb, correct and compensate cases of VAW Although, International bodies, Women organizations and non – governmental organizations, continue with passion and relentless spirits to direct and influence positive changes, their efforts over the years have witnessed minimal success and the issues still remain – weak laws and legislature to punish offenders and protect the victims, a closed system whereby victims are scared of the consequences of reporting because they would be socially stigmatized and abandoned, the measure of the violence they experience may increase as a result of their attempt to report these cases.  The way forward at the end, I suggest would be … more pressure, more advocacies, creating a whistle blowing system or organization where victims or witnesses can report to without the fear of being bullied or socially reprimanded, a more proactive government and less violence. Please share your opinions and suggestions!