Coalition seeks inclusive, gender-sensitive constitution

By Joseph Jibueze

 

A coalition of 88 civil society and rights organisations has urged the National Assembly to make the constitution gender-friendly and inclusive.

It raised 10 issues that must be considered in the ongoing constitution amendment to make it inclusive.

At a briefing in Lagos by the Executive Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the coalition, under the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, said the constitution should adopt a gender-sensitive language.

“The language of the current constitution is largely insensitive and excludes women who constitute half of the population. The word ‘he’ is used 235 times while ‘women’ is referenced only twice.

“The constitution Nigerian women want to see should be inclusive in language and representative,” the coalition said.

It believes the federal character principle under Section 14 (3) should include the needs of women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and other vulnerable groups.

The coalition said Chapter 2 of the Constitution should be enforceable.

“What we want is a constitution that enforces the socio-economic rights of all Nigerians, including women and children,” Dr Akiyode-Afolabi said.

The constitution, the coalition said, must guarantee equality in the process of acquiring citizenship.

“Section 26(2) should be amended to confer citizenship by registration to a foreign spouse of a woman just like her male counterpart,” it said.

It added that Section 29 (4b), which provides that any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age is “a violation of children’s right and should have no place in the constitution Nigerian women want”.

The coalition said the constitution must uphold the dignity of all persons, protect women from sexual and gender violence, and provide equal rights for men and women in marriage and inheritance.

It wants the constitution to promote women’s political participation and gender equality so that where there is a position being taken by a particular gender, the opposite must be the deputy.

“The constitution women want must provide that no gender shall exceed two-thirds in elective and appointive positions at the three tiers of government.

“We support the clamour for the creation of additional special seats for women, including women with disabilities, and those who are in other vulnerable groups in the federal and state legislative houses to enable equitable participation and inclusion.

“A more sustainable measure is the provision of 35 per cent or two-third provision in the constitution as a temporary rule as done in other African countries like Rwanda, Eritrea and Kenya,” Dr Akiyode-Afolabi said.