The issue of women’s rights continue to take center stage in global discourse as the world moves forward. From the legalization of abortion rights in France to the landmark elections in the United States, women are making significant strides and changes and there is nothing anyone can do about it.
Now, Nigeria and the government there is being urged to empower women and allow them to thrive.
The BIG Call
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, stretched the importance of women’s active participation in decision-making and politics for Nigeria to achieve equality, sustainable development, peace, and democracy.
One of the highlights is that although women have the fundamental right to engage in political life, they still encounter numerous social, cultural, and financial obstacles.
Therefore, stakeholders, especially the National Assembly must seize the ongoing constitution reform process as a unique opportunity for Nigeria to align with progressive nations by promoting gender parity through the adoption of a legal framework that combats gender-based discrimination.
Ambassador Isopi, represented by the EU Deputy Head of Mission to Nigeria, Zissimos Vergos, conveyed these sentiments during a two-day roundtable on women’s inclusion in politics, held in Abuja as part of the International Women’s Week commemoration, organized by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria.
Building The Case For Activists
Meanwhile, Women’s rights activists across Europe are joining forces to advocate for a dedicated funding mechanism within the European Union to ensure access to abortion for women across the bloc.
The movement, known as “My Voice, My Choice,” was launched in Slovenia and brought together activists from various European countries, including Spain, Finland, Poland, France, Croatia, and Ireland.
“We are organizing at the European level to advance the abortion issue,” explained Marta Lempart, a leader of the Polish Women’s Strike, ahead of the announcement.
“We will collect signatures to have member states opt into a program that will provide financing when they offer abortions and reproductive care to residents from other member states,” Lempart elaborated on the new initiative.
The launch of the campaign followed a day after French lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of enshrining abortion access in the Constitution, which European activists hailed as inspiring and a positive example for women’s rights movements.
However, France’s Catholic Conference of Bishops criticized the vote, expressing hope that fellow citizens would prioritize life.
The purpose of the initiative, according to activists, is to prevent Europe from following the United States in rolling back abortion rights, as women in Europe still face risks due to inadequate services.
“We witnessed what occurred in the US, where millions of women were suddenly left without a safe and professional option for terminating pregnancy overnight,” said Nika Kovač, coordinator of the campaign and director of the 8th of March Institute.
While nearly all EU countries allow abortion access upon request, there have been attempts in some states to limit these rights. For instance, a 2020 Polish court ruling led to a near-total ban on abortion, and anti-abortion organizations in Italy have sought to change abortion laws.
Ireland, on the other hand, voted to repeal a ban on abortion in a referendum five years ago, with Doireann Crosson from the National Women’s Council of Ireland emphasizing the importance of ensuring essential reproductive health care services for all.
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