WILPF Nigeria

WILPF Nigeria, founded in 2009, officially became a WILPF section at the Costa Rica Congress in 2011. Joy Ada Onyesoh is the current WILPF-Nigeria President. This section meets once a month and holds annual national meetings. Members conducts various programs and seminars in order to enhance the groups focal areas: building membership and understanding of WILPF vision, capacity building, investing in peace, building alliance with other sections, and developing African regional cooperation.

WILPF Nigeria prepared a statement as Nigeria takes the Presidency of the UN Security Council in October 2011 which will host the annual Women, Peace and Security Open Debate. They have underlined the need for specific and immediate actions in many countries, some specific to Nigeria, to ensure security, promote equality, and protect women's rights.

“Today in Nigeria, our sisters, daughters, and communities experience many challenges and insecurities including violations of our rights, as well as marginalization and discrimination. Gender inequality and violence against women continues unabated and is characterized by the lack of justice and normalization of inequality across the country...in order to prevent further deterioration of women's rights, we must unite to tackle the root causes of violence. We must redefine our perception of what security means to us and use it as a framework for addressing inequality.

We, the women of the Nigerian WILPF section and WILPF sections around the world, call on all actors, particularly the Nigerian authorities, local and national, to address inequality and the root causes of violence against women

  • More proactive action in the internalization and implementation of CEDAW;

  • The creation and implementation of a National Action Plan (NAP) on Security Council Resolution 1325in line with WILPF International Resolution;

  • Increased partnership and consultation between Nigerian Government and civil society as a means toachieve these goals;

  • Reduction of militarism and military spending and implementation of strategies for real disarmament;

  • An ATT that includes comprehensive prohibitions on the transfer of arms that are, among other things,likely to be used to violate international humanitarian law or human rights or to commit acts of genocide or crimes against humanity; that will have a negative impact on sustainable socioeconomic development or destroy the environment; that will provoke or exacerbate armed conflict or facilitate sexual- and gender-based violence; and

  • Increased support for the participation of women at all levels of decision-making including the elected roles."

To read the full statement, visit our website: WILPF Nigeria statement