Ms Theodora Nwankwo of Nigeria and 10 other women have been elected as experts to serve on the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Nwankwo, a seasoned legal practitioner, retired Magistrate and Executive Director of an NGO-Civil Resource and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), polled 95 out of the 180 total votes.
She along with the 10 other women will serve on the UN monitoring body for a four-year term, beginning from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31,2019.
Others elected are Dalia Leinarte of Lithuania, Nicole Ameline of France, Wenyan Song, China; , Nahla Haidar, Lebanon; Gunnar Bergby ,Norway; and Bandana Rana, Nepal.
Also on the committee are Rosario Manalo, Philippines; Hilary Gbedemah, Ghana; Icha Verges, Mauritania and Marion Bethel, Bahamas.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, comprising 23 independent experts, serve in their personal capacity and monitors the implementation of the UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
NAN reports that Nigeria as a member of the UN, signed and ratified without any reservation, the CEDAW in 1985 and 1991 respectively.
In this regard, Nigeria is also eligible through election to serve on the Committee in accordance with Article 17 of the Convention.