UNAN Press Statement
United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNAN) joins the rest of the World to mark the 2018 International Women’s day. The thematic focus for this year is “Time is now, rural and urban activists transforming lives” This is an acknowledgment that truly some progress has been made across the world over the years in several areas, in the quest to advance global gender agenda at National and International levels. But there is still so much work to be done and now is the time to sustain the momentum through collaborations by all to ensure advancement of Women and full integration of Women into higher echelon of society.
UNAN as an integral part of the family of the UN operating at the grass root level, is particularly delighted by the revelations by the UN Sec General, Mr Gutieres in his remarks to mark the day that the Organisation has now reached gender parity for the first time in his Senior Management Team, and is also determined to achieve such parity throughout the organization. This is truly an example worthy of emulation and should in fact serve as an inspiration for member states of the United Nations desirous of pressing for change in fulfillment of this year’s theme.
In Nigeria, we acknowledge some form of progress being made including the change in the attitude of education of the girl child but the plight of Women at rural and even urban areas are still of serious concern. Like reported cases of sexual and other forms of violence against Women, teenage pregnancy and phenomenon of baby factories, a large number of girls out of school remain worrisome. In the spirit of this year’s theme, we recommend State Governments in particular to take action to end these negative trends and ensure improvement in the lives of Women with focus on gender parity. As the Country prepares for election next year, affirmative action should be put in place by Governments at all levels and political parties to encourage and support women to seek elective offices to substantially increase their number in main stream political space where they can equally make meaningful impact in the field of Nation Building.
Signed UNA-Nigeria Secretary General
Engr. Ganiyu OWOLABI
Lagos Nigeria
7th March 2018.
