COLOUR TAG FOR “VIOLENCE”

Counting down “one” day to the “V” day (February 14), What colour would you tag “VIOLENCE” besides colour red and why? Let's hear your views....
 

Related link: one Billion Rising!

Women in Conflict and Peace-Building

Over the past two decades, Nigeria has experienced increased levels of insecurity and violence which has claimed many lives and property. The state of insecurity has affected virtually every aspect of social and economic development and women have so far been especially affected by such violence and insecurity because of their peculiar roles as homemakers, caregivers as well as their relatively poor economic status.   

Unarmed women and children thus continue to bear the brunt of massacres that occur in different parts of the country, especially in northern Nigeria.  The mass killing that occurred in Jos, Plateau state in 2010, for example, resulted in the death of many Nigerians most of whom were women and children.  To date, the number of the victims affected by that massacre has not been confirmed.  In recognition of the precarious situation that women found themselves in that tragedy, many women organized a peaceful “wailing” protest in Abuja demanding justice and protection from such attacks.  The massacre brought about condemnations from both local and international agencies and government officials.  It also brought to light women’s interest and role in peace building processes that aim to provide rehabilitation for victims of conflict and establish preventive systems. 

Recent events of conflicts, bombing of commercial and public places in Nigeria show that conflicts must be managed, not ignored and there must be concrete efforts for peace building. Such processes must also be completely inclusive of all interests represented in the country.  Without peace there can be no meaningful development and without women’s involvement in the design and implementation of policies and programs on conflict resolution and peace-building such activities will fail to achieve its purpose.  On  October 31 2000 the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted the Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR1325), stating in article 2 of the Resolution: “Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peace-building, and stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their role in decision- making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution”.  In addition, various other international and regional instruments as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states clearly women’s right to protection in conflict situations and their involvement (without discrimination) in peace building and conflict resolution processes. Nigeria is signatory to a host of such international instruments and laws.

BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights in recognition of the rights of women in conflicts situation and peace building process dedicates her 2013 calendar to women in conflicts. The 2013 calendar highlights quotations from legal instruments that outlaw violence against women in conflicts and recommend women’s involvement in peace-building processes.

Violence Against Women Without a Male Child by Ijeoma Chinakwe (an Intern with BAOBAB)

Up to date in the  eastern part of Nigeria, a  woman without a male child has no say in her husband's family, when her husband is no more she will be left with nothing. Empowering such woman and letting her know her fundamental human rights will give her much security and sense of belonging in the society.

Last year December, an organization (The Prudent Women Foundation) held a workshop in Imo state Nigeria, a case was reported of a woman with three girls without any male child. The woman was  forcefully pushed out of her matrimonial home by her husband’s relatives. This is because she had no male child for their brother for the years they lived together as a couple.  As a result of these, she  was sent out with her three female children with nothing to fall back to. 

The international women’s day observed every 8th of March, addresses such violence but it is a pity that many women are still not aware of this occasion that is solely for the benefit of all women. I feel sustainable empowerment  for women in general,  will reduce or totally eliminate such violence in our immediate and large society.

Know your facts on violence against women

Do you know your facts on violence against women? Take the Say NO quiz and find out!
What's more, every point you score counts towards the Say NO action counter.
Let's show the world we are not silent anymore. Take action now! Click on this link:
http://www.saynotoviolence.org/quiz

A Critical Look into the Jos Crisis from a Feminist Perspective - Maryam Kazeem (an Intern with BAOBAB, 2011)

Over the past five years there has been an escalation of sectarian violence in the Middle-Belt Zone of Nigeria. In the North-Central city of Jos, the army sent to protect, and the residents supposedly acting on behalf of their respective religious communities, have carried out extreme acts of violence against innocent victims. In the month of January of 2011, there have already been over 200 victims.[1]

As we saw in March of 2010, the women of the region have had enough of the violence. In response to an attack, which left hundreds dead (many of whom were women and children), hundreds of women in Abuja and Jos rallied against the violence. Wearing all-black ensembles, the women carried photographs of the innocent victims, as well as posters calling for an end to the violence. [2] While the rally captured some attention from both the Nigerian government and the West, the violence in Jos continued throughout this past year and into 2011.

Earlier this week, thousands of women gathered again in Jos to protest against another massacre, which left hundreds dead in just thirty days.[3] One must ask what role women’s organizations in Nigeria have taken to put an end to these political massacres and their innocent victims?

Before contemplating that question, I want to highlight an effective example of women’s activism, from one of our neighboring countries, Liberia. In 2003, WIPNET, a women’s organization in Nigeria played an instrumental role in ending Charles Taylor’s brutal regime and Liberia’s Second Civil War. The documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell (2008) directed by Gini Reticker, highlights the activities of Liberian women to end the civil war, with the inspiring result of the election of the nation’s first female president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. While the film emphasizes many aspects of women’s activism- one of the most important factors, which can go easily unnoticed was the socio-economic diversity of the women activists. While the filmmakers laud the fact that Muslim and Christian women in Liberia worked together, they do not necessarily recognize that additionally, women of different economic status partnered. Leymah Gbowee, who is featured in the film as the leader of the women, was an educated social worker; several other lead members of the women were as well, educated, professional women. I would suggest that the war created a state in which women of different socio-economic status had no choice, but to work together in order to have an impact.

While the recent protest in Jos, involved university students, it is not clear that professional women such as lawyers, police officials, etc. participated in the activism against the violence. I illuminate the example of Liberia, to pose a question of which women are engaged in activism in Nigeria? Is it possible that part of the reason these atrocities, which mostly affect women, keep occurring is due to the lack of involvement of women from “higher” levels of society? I would suggest that women of all socio-economic backgrounds need to be involved in order for change to be truly implemented. This includes market women, police officials, social workers, lawyers, and the women in Nigeria (albeit few) that hold positions in the government. Without the involvement of these women that have tangible authority in Nigeria, these protests will continue to be seen and not heard. It seems clear that unless Nigerians, from all different regions of the country, feel as though the perceived distant violence in Jos affects their livelihood; the violence will continue to persist. After all, one cannot claim that progress is being made in Nigeria for women, when poor women and children, in cities such as Jos continue to suffer.

Maryam Kazeem
African Studies, Sociological Research
Northwestern University 2010

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[1] Ayo Okulaja “Governor Weeps as Women Protest in Jos” 234Next, February 1, 2011. “http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5670708-146/governor_weeps_as_women_protest_in.csp”

[2] “Women Protest at Jos Killings” BBC News, March 11, 2010. “http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8562961.stm”

[3]“Christians, Muslims protest at Nigeria sectarian unrest” AFP, January 31, 2011 “http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gjQii2oRiD62vxEZ43RjrrJEkdCw?docId=CNG.ddc0305146893ec9e9e6796d743e6af7.6a1”

Boko Haram, an Islamic sect in Nigeria hits Bauchi, Borno - Wunmi Akinbodunse

An Islamic sect called Boko Haram which means "Western education is sin" the group behind the latest violence in some parts of Northern Nigeria believe that western education corrupts the ideas, belief and values of the Islamic religion, consequently they stand to defend it. Most members of this group are said to be school drop outs and those educated, destroy their degree certificates as a symbol of solidarity to their belief.

The violence started in Bauchi and later escalated to other neighbouring states like Borno, Adamawa, Kano and Katsina.

This group has been in existence for sometime; they are notorious for kidnapping, raping, intimidation and molestation, they take laws into their hands as the authourity failed to challenge them. Ironically, despite their belief, according to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 12, Bauchi, Moses Anegbode " they forbid anything western yet their leader had an array of western materials in his possession such as phone, Jeep cars”. Continuing he wondered if they were made by him”

Once again women are at the receiving end of this violence as they become the widows of the dead victims of the violence/clash between the sect and the police have the onerous burden to provide for the family. Given that the sect members are mostly young men, widows they left behind would obviously be young given also the prevalence of early marriage in that region. The situation has the potential of constraining these women to go into prostitution or be lured into trafficking for the promise of better life else where, which in reality does not exist. Other women whose spouses are casualties and suffered either permanent or temporary disabilities will have to bear the burden of care giving and also providing for other needs of the family.