Anthonia Duru
As Nigerians join the rest of the world to mark the 2020 International Women’s Day, renowned gender advocate Professor Joy Ezeilo, has called on all to take stock of the many cost of gender disparity.
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Ezeilo founder, WomenAid Collective and TAMAR Sexual Abuse Referral Centre in a statement she issued in commemoration of 2020 IWD and obtained by our reporter stated that there are huge gaps in all sectors which according to her fuels gender imbalance.
The former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
Member, while calling on all to take stand on gender equality said, “It is time we realise the huge cost of gender inequalities and exclusion of women and girls in democratic and developmental quests. There are existing unacceptable gaps across sectors in terms of access and control of economic and political structures informed by systemic gender imbalance. Discrimination in laws and practices, including social norms continue to perpetuate the stereotypes that fuel the gender disparities.”
While lamenting that journey towards gender parity since Beijing Conference 25 years back is not attaining deserving speed in some countries, she called on all to be committed to the goal of attaining gender balance. “The journey of an equal world has been one of, one step forward, several steps backward, especially in some countries that have refused to appreciate the simple logic that progress for women is progress for all and that democracy and development that is not inclusive is endangered. The occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, which coincides with post 25 years of the Beijing World Women’s Conference is an opportunity to reaffirm commitments that women’s rights are human rights. I call on Governments and the private sector to pursue gender equality and women’s empowerment for sustainable development. It is all in our hands to take the stand for gender equality, human rights, justice and inclusion. I take a stand for gender equality!”
