| Promoting Peace and Security for African Women and Girls |
| WELCOME Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative(ECOWA) is a Nigerian non governmental, non for profit, women human rights organisation promoting peace and security for African Women and Girls, through Social Justice Education, Research and Policy Advocacy, Support Interventions and Regional Partnership. ECOWA engages stakeholders in monitoring compliance with international, regional, and national policies on the protection of women and girls in conflict and disaster. |
| POST 2015 AGENDA Echoes of Women in Africa engagement on the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Processes internationally and nationally. In March 9-20 2014 ECOWA participated in the annual commission oon the status of women in(CSW) at the United Nations New York with the theme on evaluating the success of the MDGs being replaced by the sustainable development goals. March 10-21 2015 Group of Six Review of Beijing +20 Review ECOWA is a member of G6 in Nigeria( Group of Six) comprising Partnership for Justice, Vison Spring Initiative, GADA, Women Law and Development and Women Health and Rights with funding from J4A published a review on BPFA 20 years after in Nigeria. This was presented at a side i=event organised by the group at the 2015 commission on thr status of Women Church Center New York March 16, 2015. A post CSW workshop was organised in Lagos at Chesterfied hotel on June 10, 2015 with the media and CSO's where the publication was formerly launched in Nigeria and the with reconmdations on the BPFA to achieve SDGs by 2030. July 10-16 2015 Financing for Development Conference( FFD3) As part of delegates sponsored by the UN Women through FEMNET, ECOWA was represented at the FFD 3 from July 10 the Women's Forum, to the 11-12 the CSO's Forum and 13-16, 2015 the Conference on financing the SDGs by governments at UNECA Building in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. The women groups forum came up with red flags on the outcome document for financing the SDGs and need governments to finance development issues on gender equality and women empowerment instead of the abdigating their duties to private sector partnership who do not care about people and planet rather after profits. During the negotiations, ECOWA in conjuction with other Nigerian women CSO's presented the African Women declaration meant for heads of government to the Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osibanjo who represented the president of Nigeria at the conference. Women groups paid advocacy visit to the Execueitve Director of the UN Women at the regional office in Ethiopia to advocate for support on the negotiations for funding on SDGs. August 18, 2015 Setting Agenda for Nigerian Women An outcome of the FFD 3 was a Stakeholders Agenda Seeting on the Out Comes of the African Regional High Level DForum on Post 2015 SGDs with the theme' leaving No Nigerian Woman Behind' by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Women Environmental Programme WEP lead organisation of the Women Major Group. Louisa Eikhomun presented in the plenary session on Evaluating Women's Progress Challenges and Best Practice from the MDGS in Nigeria. Awareness on the SDGs at grassroots levels, Gender Budgetting for women empowerment, monitoring was reconmendations to achieve the SDGs in Nigeria. |
International Women's Day March 8 2015
Media Rounds by ECOWA to commemorate the International Women's Day on March 8 in Lagos State and Benin City with the theme 'Make it Happen'. As
Nigeria prepares for the 2015 election, ECOWA organised civic education for women in Lagos and Edo State and went on media rounds with messages to
condemn electoral violence. Women being end sufferers of violence wanted peaceful election
which was being threatened by postponements heating up the political tension in the country. The women called on the federal government, INEC political
parties and candidates to ensure peaceful election deviod of violence. The media rounds were to Channels TV, Continental TV, Lagos TV and to print media
Guardian Newspapers, Daily Independence. The women used songs, role play and poetry to condem conflict in Nigeria.
On Mach 13, 2015 in Benin City Edo State,ECOWA mobilised women from the three homogenous tribes of Edo , Esan and Etsako and sensitised them
their civic rights at Urukpotal Hall Ring Road. This was followed by a walk to Nigerian Union of Journalist Secretariate with the message for peaceful elections
and they received by the state secretary. The women carried the walk to the Edo State Goverment and were recieved by the Chief of Staff Mr. Patrick
Obayagbon on behalf of the governor. Mr Oabyagnon asssured the women with government preparedness peaceful elections on March 8 and April 16th
2015.
Media Rounds by ECOWA to commemorate the International Women's Day on March 8 in Lagos State and Benin City with the theme 'Make it Happen'. As
Nigeria prepares for the 2015 election, ECOWA organised civic education for women in Lagos and Edo State and went on media rounds with messages to
condemn electoral violence. Women being end sufferers of violence wanted peaceful election
which was being threatened by postponements heating up the political tension in the country. The women called on the federal government, INEC political
parties and candidates to ensure peaceful election deviod of violence. The media rounds were to Channels TV, Continental TV, Lagos TV and to print media
Guardian Newspapers, Daily Independence. The women used songs, role play and poetry to condem conflict in Nigeria.
On Mach 13, 2015 in Benin City Edo State,ECOWA mobilised women from the three homogenous tribes of Edo , Esan and Etsako and sensitised them
their civic rights at Urukpotal Hall Ring Road. This was followed by a walk to Nigerian Union of Journalist Secretariate with the message for peaceful elections
and they received by the state secretary. The women carried the walk to the Edo State Goverment and were recieved by the Chief of Staff Mr. Patrick
Obayagbon on behalf of the governor. Mr Oabyagnon asssured the women with government preparedness peaceful elections on March 8 and April 16th
2015.
IDPs and Renewed call for IDP Policy in Nigeria.
As part of our research and policy advocacy towards an IDPs Policy in Nigeria, ECOWA was
represented at the National IDP Summit organised by CISLAC and the National Commision on
Refugees, Internally displaced persons and Migrants on August 19-20, 2015. Nigeria is a signatory
to the Kampala Convention on IDPs and yet to domesticate the law to protect IDPs. Meanwhile an
IDP policy advocated for since 2003 and is still a draft.
With the current increase in IDPs from violent conflict and disaster in Nigeria the IDP policy as a
legal framework is urgent for the protection. States affected by insurgency include Adamawa,
Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi. According to IOM dis[placement assessment in 2015. 75%
of IDPs were displaced in 2014 and 23 % in 2015 with 52% Female and 48% of male. 56%
are children with half under 5 years. 92%of IDPs live with host families while 8% live in IDP
camps.
ECOWA staff field visit to female IDPs in Abuja Camps with Louisa Eikhomun Executive Director
and Kate Duru Senior programme Officer on August 20, 2015 revealed that majority of IDPs fled
from Borno State, the IDPs are living in poor conditions in shanties built by themselves. water,
sanition, food and security being their major challenges, with children malnurished and out of
school.
As part of our research and policy advocacy towards an IDPs Policy in Nigeria, ECOWA was
represented at the National IDP Summit organised by CISLAC and the National Commision on
Refugees, Internally displaced persons and Migrants on August 19-20, 2015. Nigeria is a signatory
to the Kampala Convention on IDPs and yet to domesticate the law to protect IDPs. Meanwhile an
IDP policy advocated for since 2003 and is still a draft.
With the current increase in IDPs from violent conflict and disaster in Nigeria the IDP policy as a
legal framework is urgent for the protection. States affected by insurgency include Adamawa,
Taraba, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi. According to IOM dis[placement assessment in 2015. 75%
of IDPs were displaced in 2014 and 23 % in 2015 with 52% Female and 48% of male. 56%
are children with half under 5 years. 92%of IDPs live with host families while 8% live in IDP
camps.
ECOWA staff field visit to female IDPs in Abuja Camps with Louisa Eikhomun Executive Director
and Kate Duru Senior programme Officer on August 20, 2015 revealed that majority of IDPs fled
from Borno State, the IDPs are living in poor conditions in shanties built by themselves. water,
sanition, food and security being their major challenges, with children malnurished and out of
school.
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REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
DEFENDERS IN KAMPALA UGANDA MAY 2015.
ECOWA was represented by Kate Duru in a 3 -Day Regional Conference
Organised by the office of the Special Rapportuer on the Situation of Human
Rights Defenders at Speke Resorts in Kampala Uganda from May 18-19
2015.The Special Rapportuer Mr Michel Forste met with human rights
defenders from African Region as part of his mandate to introduce participants
to the UN reporting process, assessed the human rights defenders situation
and the challenges confronting women Human Right Defenders( WHRD) in
Africa.
The consultation was followed by a consultation on a model national law for
the protetion of human rights defenders organised by the East and Horn Human
Rights Defenders Network in Uganda on the 20th of May 2015.
The enactment for a model law for human rights defenders is on protection
them from threats and risks from state and non state actors and emergency
response to defenders and their family.
DEFENDERS IN KAMPALA UGANDA MAY 2015.
ECOWA was represented by Kate Duru in a 3 -Day Regional Conference
Organised by the office of the Special Rapportuer on the Situation of Human
Rights Defenders at Speke Resorts in Kampala Uganda from May 18-19
2015.The Special Rapportuer Mr Michel Forste met with human rights
defenders from African Region as part of his mandate to introduce participants
to the UN reporting process, assessed the human rights defenders situation
and the challenges confronting women Human Right Defenders( WHRD) in
Africa.
The consultation was followed by a consultation on a model national law for
the protetion of human rights defenders organised by the East and Horn Human
Rights Defenders Network in Uganda on the 20th of May 2015.
The enactment for a model law for human rights defenders is on protection
them from threats and risks from state and non state actors and emergency
response to defenders and their family.
Donate to Hasana a
young IDP under 5
years,malnurished,
barely claded and out of
school.
young IDP under 5
years,malnurished,
barely claded and out of
school.
| Draft Agreed Conclusions presented by CSW Bureau for Commission on the Status of Women 60th Session - 14 – 24 March 2016 The Commission on the Status of Women reaffirms the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, and the declarations adopted by the Commission on the occasion of the tenth, fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries of the Fourth World Conference on Women. (CSW 58 AC, para 1, updated) The Commission reaffirms that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women as well as other relevant conventions and treaties provide an international legal framework and a comprehensive set of measures for realizing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and their human rights. (Based on CSW58 AC, para 2, and E/CN.6/2016/3, paras 15 and 47) |
| SDGs and Targets Adopted in September 2015 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development |
FEMINIST FORUM September 24, 2015 at the UN BY Women Major
Group
Group
| #SDG 5: Edo Women South South Nigeria produce First Female Speaker Echoes of Women in Africa, a member of Edo Women Arise Group made up of female professional, business/market women, civil society groups, women in Diaspora, female clerics, women in Politics congratulates Rt Hon Elizabeth Ativie unprecedented, epoch making, miraculous election as the first female speaker in the Edo House of Assembly and the first female speaker from the south -south of Nigeria. The following were demanded from her: Lead the Edo State Assembly to implement SDGs with policies on Goal 5 on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment. Hasten the signing into law of the Domestic Violence bill in the house that has passed first reading. Enhance the domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act ( VAPP) • Promote the appointments of more women in different positions in the states, Create the office of a special adviser on gender to the office of the speaker ( this request has been made by Echoes of Women in Africa to the former speaker without positive response). Continue the advocacy for female deputy governor in Edo Gubernatorial Election. |
| #WD2016 Denmark Executive Director of Echoes of Women in Africa Louisa Eikhomun was sponsored by Women Deliver as a delegate to the 4th Global Conference in Copenhagen Denmark 16-20th May 2016. When the world invests in girls and women, everybody wins. 5,400 Leading, global advocate for girls’ and women’s health, rights, and wellbeing, brought together by Women Deliver with diverse voices and interests to drive investments and progress, particularly in maternal, sexual, and reproductive health and rights. The focus of the 2016 Conference is on how to make development matter most for girls and women, with a specific focus on health, rights, gender equality, education, and economic empowerment. |
