Dear Madam President Elect,
We, the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), extend our warmest
congratulations to you on your historic election as the first female President of the
Ghana Bar. This remarkable achievement shatters glass ceilings and paves the way
for gender parity, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal
5 and the 2030 Agenda.
Your ascension to this esteemed position marks a new era for the Ghana Bar and sets a commendable precedent for neighboring bars in Africa. We applaud the wisdom of your colleagues in choosing you, Efua Ghartey, to lead with the distinctive perspective and approach that only the feminine touch can bring.
As you embark on this remarkable journey, we express our eagerness to collaborate with your organization in advancing the rule of law and protecting
human rights across Africa. We are confident that your leadership will be marked by unprecedented success and impact.
We wish you, your team, and the Ghana Bar Association a tenure filled with memorable achievements, profound influence, and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice.
Please accept our sincerest felicitations and best regards.
Sincerely,
Mandy Demechi Asagba
FICMC, M.I.L.D, MDiv, BL, LL.B
President, African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
ARISE O COMPATRIOTS
Nigerians call obey
To serve our father’s land
With love and strength and faith
May the Labour of our heroes past never be in vain
O YES ARISE, enough of the crawling, it’s time to walk, it’s time to run with the Nigeria vision, it’s time to recover all our lost glory,
It is time to fix Nigeria and stand TALL in the comity of Nations
It is time to dethrone the rule of rulers and enthrone the Rule of Law
It is time for peace and justice to reign in our land
We choose to fix Nigeria today! No longer business as usual. It’s our Father’s Land, We choose to protect our father’s land and release it from every negative grip. Enough of the ‘Jakpa’, Enough of the ‘sidon look’, Enough of ‘settling for the crumbs’…. We are ready to confront our challenges, occupy our space and possess our possessions!
IT’S A NEW DAWN!
Welcome to the Nigeria of our dreams!!!
A Just, egalitarian and prosperous nation.
The Speaking and acting Nigerians
The ‘Soro so ke, mu se’ generation is here!
Mandy Demechi-Asagba
President
AWLA
October 1, 2023
We received with utter consternation the news of the alleged sexual harassment and assault by the Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Cyril Ndifon on the Female Law Students of the University of Calabar in Cross Rivers State leading to their protest demanding that he must go for restoration of their sanity and dignity.
Sexual Harassment is illegal, unconstitutional and criminal and must be condemned in its entirety. AWLA condemns the act utterly.
We at African Women Lawyers Association add our voices to this call. We hereby call upon the Inspector General of Police to immediately wade into this and ensure a proper investigation into this allegation and prosecution if found culpable.
It is time to end this terror unleashed on Nigerian girls on Campus. AWLA is set to ensure these young girls get justice. To imagine that a Professor with the antecedent of sexually harassing students could be appointed a Dean is most worrisome as he had been accused of similar acts in the past.
We call on the relevant Authorities to look into this and ensure that such randy lecturers are weeded out of the University system early in order not to endanger the female students.
A University is a place of learning and inculcating morals, integrity and Character. The thought of such morally bankrupt and or deranged persons in a learning environment is toxic and must be weeded out fast.
We therefore call on the University to immediately suspend the Professor pending the investigations.
We also seize this opportunity to warn any institution of learning that condones such terror on female students, as AWLA has set up a GBV Schools Monitoring Committee to look into complaints from female students from all Institutions of learning in Nigeria and would ensure such institutions are dealt with legally.
AWLA is poised to end indignity to women and girls.
Signed
Mandy Asagba Peju Oduye-Quadri
President Secretary General
President@awla.international
awlanigeria2015@gmail.com
awlainternational@gmail.com
August 25- September 1, 2023
AFRICAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (AWLA) in collaboration with the NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), DUTY SOLICITORS NETWORK (DSN), NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (NHRC), LEGAL AID COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, NAPTIP, BRITISH COUNCIL- RoLAC, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF WOMEN LAWYERS (FIDA), LEGAL HUB and other stakeholders are set to provide FREE LEGAL CLINIC to the indigent, marginalised, oppressed and violated at the NBA ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE (AGC)
AWLA volunteers to provide free legal services at the upcoming NBA AGC Conference to be held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja from the 25th of August to the 1st of September 2023 from 10am daily.
DSN will have on ground no less than 30 lawyers who will be joined by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute and other Human Rights organisations in attending to the general public by providing free legal advice and services.
Citizens and residents within Abuja and environs are encouraged to visit the *Free Legal Clinic* tent at the venue of the AGC to speak to a lawyer about their legal issues and get advice on how to resolve the issues.
SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED FOR FREE INCLUDE:
Human Rights Violations, abuse of office, gender based violence and complaints of human Rights violations generally
Marriage and matrimonial disputes
Domestic Violence and Child Rights issues
Child Custody and maintenance
Contracts
Landlord and Tenant matters
Alternative Dispute Resolutions: Mediation and Reconciliation services
Starting a new business Incorporations and business registrations
Employer/Employee Disputes
Other Partner Institutions include:*
1. Juritrust Center
2. Duty Solicitors Network
3. NAPTIP Anti Trafficking Legal Hubs (Edo, Delta and Lagos)
4. IIDEA RoLAC Program
5. Legal Pool for Justice and Equity Initiative
Lawyers are welcome to register as volunteers at the venue to donate at least 1 hour of their time to provide free advice
If you are interested in making a donation in cash or kind please contact +234 803 331 4899, +234 817 121 4161 for further directions.
Lawyers should please share the eflyers on their respective community platforms
AWLA is wishing all the African Children HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD and enjoins them to focus on education and prioritise it. Give education 90% attention. Give it your best and you’ll be glad you did!!!
The International Day of the African Child is commemorated on June 16 annually since 1991 to honour the young South African students in Soweto who were ambushed and massacred by the Police on 16 June 1976 for daring to protest against education injustice and inequality in the apartheid regime.
Despite this monumental sacrifice, the African Child is still denied education
With 244 million girls and boys, between 6 and 18 years, worldwide out of school in 2021 of which 118.5 million were girls and 125.5 million were boys.Almost 100 million of them are in sub-Saharan Africa.
AIM
The Day of the African Child is aimed at celebrating the children of Africa, promoting their rights, inspire reflection and action towards addressing the challenges they face on a daily basis.
THE 2023 THEME
“The Rights of the Child in the Digital Environment.” this apt and in season considering the global shift to Digital Environment. In order not to leave anyone behind it is indeed pertinent to note the importance of information technology and the need to equip the African Child and protect their right to quality education.
WORRISOME STATISTICS
It’s worrisome to note:
1. In 2019, 34 million children in primary education age in Africa were not enrolled in school. This number decreased from 45 million in 2000. On the other hand, the number of adolescents and young people not enrolled at the secondary level increased March 2023
2. Over 400 million children are currently living on the African continent – and the number is rising. The United Nations estimates that Africa’s population will double to 2.4 billion by 2050. That’s one quarter of the world’s population
3. “10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, which is the highest rate in the world. The figure indicates that one-third of Nigerian children are not in school, and one in five out-of-school children in the world is a Nigerian.”24 Jan 2022
4. The figures in Nigeria have oscillated between 10.5 million and around 15 million for more than a decade, with the situation growing worse due to the degenerating security situation in the country.
Download full address here AWLA DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD 2023
Amanda Demechi-Asagba world President of the African Women has deeply commiserated with the king of England King Charles III following the death of the Queen Elizabeth II
Demechi-Asagba extolled the late Queen for her service to humanity and prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul
Her condolence reads:
“It is a fact that history cuts across all ages, therefore, the history of the good deeds of the Queen and her family in Nigeria are well passed down from generations to generations, especially the nation’s victory of self realisation (Independence) under her reign.
You are indeed a noble matriarch and I deeply sympathize with the royal family of the Queen on the passing of this great motherly icon.
“I am certain she has moved on to the right-hand side of our Lord and I pray that the good Lord be with the rests of the family and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
“May the reign of the King, King Charles III be a peaceful one.
“Thank you for your service and dedication to the people Rest in peace Her Royal Majesty We love you very much and will never forget you
LONG LIVE THE KING
AMANDA DEMECHI-ASAGBA
President AWLA and Third Vice President Nigerian Bar Association NBA
…Justice Yuoh was the first country rep of AWLA Liberia
Global President of the African Women Lawyers Association AWLA and the Third Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Mrs Amanda Demechi-Asagba has congratulated the new Chief Judge of Liberia Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh who named CJ by the Liberian senate.
The female CJ Yuoh, who is the first country representative of AWLA Liberia, replaces Justice Francis Saye Korkpor, who retired and the exited the bench at the age of 70.
According to Demechi-Asagba, it is so heart warming that female lawyers have been blazing the trail and doing gender proud, especially living up the theme of the 2022 International women’s day tagged #Breaking the Bias.
“I am so overwhelmed with the news of your recent appointment as CJ of Liberia my great AWLA, and it is my prayer that you will do great exploits in your new capacity as Chief Justice and strive to exemplify quality leadership even as you assume headship of the Liberian bench.
“I pray for immense wisdom and courage to effectively discharge this huge task resting on your shoulders.
“On behalf of the entire members of AWLA worldwide I say a very big congratulations to you and wish you every good thing you require to “steer the wheels of justice,”
Triplenet LawParliament reports that Justice Yuoh becomes the third female chief justice and the first since 2003.
One of the two female judges on the Supreme Court at the time was Justice Yuoh.
African Unity Day: “We must thrive in Unity ” says AWLA President Amanda Demechi-Asagba
Lagos, May 25, 2022
The President of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) worldwide Mrs Amanda Demechi-Asagba has called for the sustenance of unity amongst African nations in a bid to foster cooperation and developement
Demechi-Asagba made the call following the commemoration of African Unity Day also known as Africa Day, celebrated on May 25.
AWLA reports that May 25 commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
The History of African Unity Day dates back to May 25 1963 when the leaders of 32 newly independent African states gathered in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to establish the OAU
The OAU is primarily intended to promote unity and cooperation among African states, uphold self-government and respect for territorial boundaries as well as eradication of all forms of disputes
Leaders from 30 of the then 32 independent African states therefore, signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa and the OAU was consequently, created to help bring about change, freedom and independence to many African countries
Thereafter 21 states joined, with South Africa as the youngest and 53rd member in 1994.
The OAU has since 2002 been renamed the African Union.
The African Unity Day It is also popularly known as Africa Day. It replaced the African Liberation Day also called The African Freedom Day and it is observed as a statutory public holiday in Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The change in name to the African Union did not affect the name and date of Africa Day
According to Demechi-Asagba, Africa Day is a. day when all African nations are expected to reflect on the struggles of past heroes who fought for the freedom and unity of the African race.
‘AWLA enjoins Africans on this day, to reflect on the significance of this struggle by founding fathers who fought for a better tomorrow of all Africans
“In the year 2020 17 countries on the African continent celebrated 60 years of independence and this lends credence to the struggle by pan African Advocates who brought this into fruition
HEROES OF AFRICA
Today we remember and celebrate the heroes of Africa. The foremost heroes of Independence are Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Julius Nyerere (Tanganyika, now Tanzania), Léopold Sédar Senghor (Senegal), Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nigeria), and Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Ivory Coast
Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ibrahim Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa of Nigeria who all fought for the independence of Nigeria, Chief M.K.O Abiola – the Father of Democracy, Funmilayo Ransome- Kuti a foremost Activist for emancipation and good governance
Hajia Gambo Sawaba and Margaret Ekpo were passionate, bold, courageous and dogged activists and role models.
Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana who saw independent Ghana as a spearhead for the liberation of the rest of Africa from colonial rule and Mabel Dove-Danquah, a ‘trail-blazing feminist’ and an outspoken advocate for women’s equality and good governance, Bibi Titi Mohammed from Tanzania.
Gregoire Kayibanda of Rwanda, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi and Malawi’s first female lawyer Vera Chirwa who endured exile and long years of imprisonment when she, along with others, fell out with president Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Chirwa is a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party, which eventually led the country to win independence. She also founded the League of Malawian Women which did not only fight for the rights of women but was a leading supporter of the resistance against white domination in Malawi. Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia who remains Africa’s first elected female president.
“We also remember heroes like Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Miriam Makeba and Helen Suzman of South Africa who gave themselves for the good of their people.
Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti popularly known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian fearless, bold and courageous activist,multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist who used his song to act as a watchdog to executive recklessness and impunity- (songs like Them Kill my Mama, International Thief Thief, Beasts of No Nation, Ikoyi Blindness, No Agreement, Sorrow Tears and Blood, Stand Up, Expensive Shit, Black Excellence, Water No Get Enemy, Original Suffer Head, Roforofo Fight, Yeye De Smell, Gentleman etc). He was one of the greatest Activists prophets and peaceful protesters.
Wole Soyinka (Nobel Laureate, Political Activist) whose popular inspirational quote, resonates with me- “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.”, Ken Saro-Wiwa (Writer, Businessman, Environmental Activist)
“I tell you this, I may be dead but my ideas will not die.”to mention a few.
Dare to be one of the heroes of Africa by impacting your world positively.
Above are your role models.
“The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny”
Don’t be left behind in the train of freedom fighters and watchdogs of society.
We must join hands to realize the Africa of our dreams.
AFRICA A CONTINENT OF PEACE AND UNITY
“Africa is a continent of Peace and Unity and so, this day further brings to our mind, the need to thrive in peace and unity
“Our nation Nigeria, being a frontier of peace and unity , epitomises this in its national Anthem where it says in the last stanza …”One nation bound in Freedom, Peace and Unity.
“The Nigerian Coat of Arm also signifies Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. This also portrays Nigeria as a leading force in fostering African Peace and Unity
“AWLA therefore, joins hands in upholding the peace and unity of Africa , and we use this opportunity to call for a continued cooperation among African nations, as well as a harmonious relationship to foster development.
ATTAINING AGENDA 2063
With the rising state of insecurity in the world and the war in Ukraine, threatening Africa’s food supplies and food price inflation, We call on the African Union to prioritize Nutrition, security and justice in order to save our nascent growth and development and encourage investments for a more sustainable future in line with Agenda 2063 particularly at ensuring that Africa achieves Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 which aspires for “ A peaceful and secure Africa” through the use of mechanisms that promote a dialogue-centred approach to conflict prevention and resolution of conflicts and establishing of a culture of peace and tolerance nurtured in Africa’s children and youth through peace education. The Agenda 2063 flagship initiative of Silencing the Guns by 2020 is at the core of activities being put in place to ensure Africa is a more peaceful and stable continent.
To ensure the realisation of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan African Vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, Agenda 2063 was developed as a strategic framework for Africa’s long term socio-economic and integrative transformation.
Agenda 2063 calls for greater collaboration and support for African led initiatives to ensure the achievement of the aspirations of African people. There is no better time than now to call on all African leaders to prioritize working towards achieving Agenda 2063 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals( SDGs) Agenda 2030. for a guaranteed safe and prosperous world.
International Women’s Day 2022
“Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”
#BreakTheBias
We at African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) celebrate every woman today and always. WOMAN, You make the world a beautiful place and exude love in the world. You’re smart, unique, beautiful, brainy and brawny. You bring about order and peace, you work round the clock ensuring growth and development. Even when denied the opportunity to showcase your talents, abilities and capabilities. you nevertheless work from your little corner impacting humanity daily. You are the solution to the world’s problems. The earlier the world realizes this the better for humanity.
You’re a dreamer, a believer, a doer, an achiever, an inspiration. YES that’s who you are, Woman!
You are fierce, bold, daring and unbroken!
Being a woman itself is a superpower!
You’ve got the power!
You’re a queen, you rule the world
Life has no existence without a strong ally in ‘Woman’ in every stage of life starting from motherhood to wife, from sister and finally a daughter. Can leadership achieve much without a woman? This is the missing link, the reason for the crisis in the world and the merry go round, yes they need women. Woman, you are needed in the leadership equation to balance, for peace to reign in the world. It is no secret that the future is female.
On this special day we want to let you know WOMAN that we acknowledge your power, that you’re special, appreciated and needed. We at AWLA
are ready to activate your power. – your right is your right and that we at AWLA will go the extra mile to protect your rights and interests pro bono ( free of charge) anď give you a voice. This is our way of breaking the bias
We urge you to encourage, support and lift any woman around you in your own little way and you’ll be amazed at the extent that little help can go to save a whole family – and or community or nation- this is a way of breaking the bias
International Women’s Day 2022 theme is “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”
Gender equality is the key to sustainable development and a sustainable future. The SDGs highlight that Goal 5 is the key to attaining all the other goals. We must be more intentional and deliberate in attaining gender parity.
International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women, marked annually on March 8 and it’s the day
dedicated to honour women’s socio economic achievements.
It marks a call to a gender equal world – free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination and one that is, inclusive, equitable, diverse and participatory while differences are valued and celebrated.
It also marks an invitation to commit to empowerment of women, as well as raise funds to support women and girls.
It offers an opportunity for reflection on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played a major, exemplary and or extraordinary role in the history of their communities and countries.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity with significant activities such as gender parity campaigns, rallies, seminars and symposiums carried out worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women.
The date was chosen to commemorate the day women in Soviet Russia commenced protests for the right to vote which was granted in 1917. It acknowledges the value and the importance of women in our lives and all around the world – as moulders of destinies, home makers and builders, peacemakers, dogged fighters, selfless servants and sacrificers for humanity, workaholics, bridge builders, great leaders as well as their intuitiveness, resilience and doggedness.
The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. We are not unaware of the bias, however, Knowledge of their existence is not enough, action is needed to level the playing field. What action are you taking today? Join us to Break the Bias!!! Bias, conscious or unconscious, makes it difficult for women to forge ahead in their personal lives, family and careers. The National Assembly has recently revealed to the world the level of bias against women in voting out all the five Gender Bills seeking inclusiveness, participation and parity for women. These Lawmakers are our Fathers, Uncles, Brothers. Husbands, Inlaws, Colleagues and Friends, but they failed us. The shock is maiming! That even in settling for the crumbs, we could be this humiliated, haba! WOMEN wake up from your slumber, power is never given, you’ve got to fight for it! It’s time to use the power you wield.
You’ve got the greatest political strength ( over 49% women population) but we failed to utilize it. It’s time to use it. No sentiments! No stomach infrastructure, No divide and rule- No No and No
United, we can break all bias and barriers
We can stop settling for the crumbs.
Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.
We must take individual and or collective deliberate and intentional action to break the bias or the bias will break us. YES it’s time to BREAK THE BIAS!
Break the bias now!!! BREAK BREAK AND BREAK THE BIAS NOW!!!!
LET’S MAKE THIS HAPPEN, BREAK THE BIAS!!!
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!!!
Mandy Asagba
President
African Women Lawyers Association ( AWLA)
3/8/2022
+234 913 500 0501
+234 903 740 4272
www.awlanigeria.org
Source:
UN.org
African Women Lawyers Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 6YearStrategicPlan
Time: Jan 27, 2022 04:00 PM Africa/Lagos
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