The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has appealed to tiers and arms of government to enact laws that will promote and enhance gender equality in the country.
The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu, ahead of the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD).
Annually marked around the world on March 8, the IWD is a global day set aside to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.
It has #ChoosetoChallenge as its theme for 2021.
Ezekwueme, who stressed the need for improved involvement of women in politics to engender inclusive and good governance, said the 2021 theme of the campaign was apt and necessary for women to join their voices in ensuring equal opportunities, alongside the men counterpart
He noted that “women are endowed with unique potential, creativity and rare innovations.
“Conducive atmosphere should be provided for them to enable them to harness these potential for national interest and progress.”
According to him, women are stabilisers, peace makers and source of peace, love and joy; and they will utilise all these for the benefit of all.
He said “for man to be successful, there must be a virtuous woman behind him.
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“Let virtuous woman be behind leadership in our country through active participation in politics.
“I commend the Supreme Court for its landmark judgment that gave rights of inheritance of husband and father’s properties to the womenfolk.
“Significantly, there is urgent need to give more political opportunities to women to enable them to exhibit their full potential and creativity.
“They should utilise their closeness to their children, influence on their husbands and respect they command from larger society to transform the country for the better and eliminate ills.”
The CLO boss, however, challenged Nigerian women to do more to check socio-cultural and religious impediment toward their emancipation.
Ezekwueme urged women to use this year’s International Women Day to intensify efforts toward the fight against violence against women, child abuse, rape, sex for mark and human trafficking, among other ills.
He said “women are harbingers of peace, justice, truth, equality and equity.
“They at all times should tell their husbands in politics what they should know and do for the betterment of the country.
“It is worthy of note that a virtuous woman precipitates virtuous family, society and country.
“I appeal to women to always love, respect and honour their husbands, as husbands must love, care, share pains, sorrows and sufferings of their wives.”