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AWLA AT CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT HOUSE PUBLIC HEARING 1/6/2021

Mandy Asagba- President of African Women Lawyers Association presenting AWLA Memorandum on What the Nigerian Women Want- GENDER PARITY 50/50 Representation at all elective and appointive public offices at the House of Representatives Public Hearing on Tuesday 1st June, 2021

AWLA’s  Contributions to 1999 Constitution Review
Women make up of 49.4% (94.2 million persons) of the entire population and need more than 35% representation in all elective and appointive political positions, thus the need for increased agitation for a 50/50 representation. Women have been relegated for too long. How does Nigeria plan to compensate for all the decades  of relegation?
How does Nigeria plan to achieve goal 5 of SDGs Agenda 2030? Anything short of 50/50 representation is not and cannot be futuristic
Access  to justice is fundamental to achieving gender parity thus we recommend a one stop justice system for women  and children with special  Federal courts with one jurisdiction and power to deal with any matter connected  with or relating to women and  children
To adopt a monistic approach to applicability of any international convention, treaties and protocol as well as federal laws pertaining to or related to women and children thus automatically incorporating ratified international Conventions, Treaties and Protocols into  our  national corpus Juris. In order not to shut out women and children from such non compliant states from justice
Using the example of section 254 C (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (3rd Alteration as amended)
 2010 in relation to National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Using the United Nation theme for International Women’s Day 2016 -“Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.

Read here Copy of MEMORANDUM AWLA-1.docx

Watch here

 

 

African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria PARLEY Invitation

The African Women Lawyers Association AWLA Nigeria will hold its Parley on Tuesday 22nd day of August 2017 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The Parley is hosted yearly by the hosting state branch of AWLA during the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC).

It is the coming together of AWLANs all over the federation and some African countries, with friends and well-wishers of AWLA, female law students and invited guests.

In a press statement issued and signed by the President of AWLA, Mandy Asagba and Vice-President ‘Peju Oduye-Quadri, it has become a yearly tradition to hold the AWLA’s Parley in order to reflect, take stock of AWLA’s achievements and challenges and further seek suggestions on how the organization can improve and impact in the area of protecting and advancing the rights and interests of women and children better.

The Parley will also serve as an avenue to network and discuss issues affecting women Lawyers generally. It promises to be an interesting event with side attractions which will feature traditional dance groups, comedy, music and drama. The Parley commences 12 noon prompt while dress code is black suit or dress.

“We Must Continue to Protect and Preserve the Rights and Interests of Our Girls”: Ag. President of AWLA Nigeria Commemorates Int’l Day of the Girl Child

The Acting President of the African Women Lawyers Association, AWLA, Nigeria, S. Adepeju Oduye-Quadri, has reiterated the need to maintain the tempo in the struggle for quality rights for girls in Africa.

Mrs. Oduye-Quadri, in a statement on Sunday, stated that “Every October 11 the world observes the International Day of the Girl Child in accordance with the UN declaration of 2011 that October 11 should be specifically observed as the international day of the girl child. Therefore it has now become a day to celebrate the uniqueness of the girl child as well as amplify the unique challenges the girl child is facing on a daily basis.

“The theme for this year 2020 is My Voice, Our Equal Future and it addresses the global call to action that we should:

  1. Improve the lives of girls and aspire to make their lives better wherever we are.
  2. Increase the need for girl activism.
  3. Demand for laws to free the girl child from sexual and gender  based violence, including the removal of cultural, social, educational and economic obstacles that are impeding their wellbeing and progress.
  4. In line with the aims of the 2030 Agenda for the SDGs that we should leave no one behind, it calls for a reflection and commitment on our responsibilities towards the girl child. For we are all stakeholders for the girl child. The Beijing Platform For Action also recently listed the protection of the girl child as one of the twelve (12) main areas of concern.

“In view of this, AWLA Nigeria therefore is calling out for a positive change in this regard, We must continue to strive to protect and preserve the rights and interests of our girls. The focus should be to generally secure the human rights of all girls even in this period of COVID-19 pandemic which exposed them to various challenges. Girl – child rape, defilement and abduction is still on the increase. It has become a scourge and the girl child is no longer safe. That is why the theme for this year is apt. let us raise our voices against the challenges they face so they can be safe and in turn, they will have the opportunity to excel now and in the future. Thank you all.” Oduye-Quadri said.

 

Background

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.

On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Covid-19 Reflections Part 1: Scarry Statistics by Mandy Asagba

In a country of over 206 Million people ranking 7th largest in the world, (1) coupled with its poverty status in the midst of affluence evidenced in a survey by The World Poverty Clock, an organisation that tracks world poverty in 2018 declared Nigeria the poverty capital of the world. (2)It reported ;1. That 87 million Nigerians, live in extreme poverty. 2. Defined extreme poverty as a situation when someone’s daily income is below $2 a day.3. That Nigeria is one of the countries with the least access to quality healthcare.

The Lancet, a medical journal, also in it’s 2018 survey reviewing access and quality of healthcare in 195 countries from 1990 to 2015, ranked Nigeria 140th position. Do we then in the light of the above have what it takes to battle COVID-19?

Please answer after reading through this article and tell us if we can afford to take chances and risk the lives of millions of Nigerians in the face of COVID-19 Remember life has no duplicate. JUST STAY HOME! Anything short of total lock down It’s better not imagined with the statistics herein.

How many practicing Doctors do we have? About 72,000 registered with over half the number practicing outside Nigeria. An outcry by the National Universities Commission in 2019 on the dangers of the shortage and need for minimum of 300,000 Medical Doctors to meet the WHO standard was met with deaf ears or heard but yet to take concrete step.

(3) How many Hospital beds do we have for inpatients? Five hospital beds per 10,000 population
What is the ratio to patients? One doctor per 5,00~0 people in Nigeria , compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of one per 600 people.

(4) How many Nurses do we have?
About 240,000 nurses and midwives and by WHO standard the country will need  471,353 nurses and midwives. (5)
Nigeria ranked 7th among 57 countries classified as facing shortage of health workers in the world and 2nd in Africa.
How many General Hospitals and Health Centers?
The Federal Ministry of Health’s  (FMOH) Health Facilities (HFs) 2005  census revealed a total of 23,640 public and private hospitals in Nigeria
How many Intensive Care Units (ICU) do we have?
No accurate data. The dearth of ICUs, had resulted in the death of many Nigerians. Lagos state alone needs over 100 intensive care bed spaces but the present number is still a far cry from the standard. According to Dr. Sylvia Cole, Consultant, Intensive Care Unit, Paelon Memorial Clinic, Lagos,“No matter how rich a trauma patient is, he/she may die if there are no emergency services like an ICU to stabilise their condition. He/she may lose functions of vital organs like the kidney, liver and become brain dead within this period”.
How many Ventilators do we have ?
Nigeria has less than 500 ventilators for coronavirus patientsWith the surge in the number of reported coronavirus cases there is dire need for more ventilators to save the lives of Nigerians. Nigerians have questioned the rationale for lawmakers embarking on purchases and distribution of exotic vehicles at this critical time instead of addressing the global crisis . 400 luxury Toyota Camry 2020 Edition vehicles which cost about $30,000 X 400 = $12,000,000$30,000 can buy 6 Ventilators thus 6 X 400 ventilators can buy a total of 2,400 Ventilators. This will sure save many lives.
How many Respiratory Therapists do we have and Patients ratio?
Estimated proportion of registered respiratory physicians to the national population at 1 per 2.3 million individuals.

(5) How conducive are the ICUs, The General Hospitals and Health Centres? Far cry from World Health Organization standard with lots of mosquitoes. You must have your personal disinfectant to have a sound sleep.

How many Laboratories and Research Centers do we have ?
Less than 50 officially registered on line.
What are the sanitary conditions at the General Hospitals / Health Centres ?
Below average
How accessible are the General Hospitals/ Health Centres?
Not easily accessible.
How available are the drugs required for treatment of their ailments?
30% availability
How affordable are the drugs?
Not affordable for the MassesMany patients turned beggars for funds to purchase drugs for their treatment.
How well do the Medical/ Health Personnel treat the Patients?
Shabby treatment, disrespectful and nonchalant behavior except you apply the Nigerian oil ( grease some palms with cash) Though there are  some  good health personnel with integrity and character.
How long do Patients have to wait to be attended to?Average of 2-6 hours. Below that you must have applied the Nigerian oil and or gotten there at 6 am.
Do Patients get treated before payment or upfront payment before treatment even if dying?
Upfront Payment except with intervention of some NGO’s with MOU to treat accident emergency victims at no cost ( e.g The HEI’s accident emergency project, #ThatNoneShouldDie Initiative) and some special ICU cases.
How many have died in cases such as this?
Thousands – no accurate data
In 2018, Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) industry report that only 5 per cent of Nigerians have health insurance, which means most Nigerian pay for medical care out of pocket. This portends serious danger in the face of Covid -19 Though the Government has promised free treatment, however this is not 100% guaranteed if the situation get overwhelming.
A combination of widespread poverty, poor access to healthcare and low health insurance cover is a fertile ground for disaster in the face of Covid -19.

Right outside the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) at Ikeja, all the way to Ikeja bus stop indigent patients regularly beg for alms from passers-by and motorists to carry out medical tests or to pay for drugs and other medical bills. This  is replete in other major hospitals across the country.
Thousands of patients die or are held hostage in hospitals because they could not afford hospital bills as little as N5,000 or less due to extreme poverty in the country.

The inability of indigent patients to pay their medical bills before treatment has caused many untimely deaths and for the few lucky to be treated, inability to pay after treatment has led to surging cases of false imprisonments ( now referred to as medical detention).

Medical detention is where patients who are unable to pay their medical bills are held hostage by private and public hospitals until they pay. A 2017 Chatham House report stated that victims of medical detentions, most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly “women requiring life-saving emergency caesarean sections, and their babies.”The report stated that people most vulnerable to medical detention are the poorest of the poor requiring emergency treatments. Subjecting them to double jeopardy – physical and verbal abuses by medical officials, further impoverishing them as they’re made to pay even for the days of forced illegal detention and causing them emotional trauma most likely to complicate their health. This is illegal and actionable. It deters healthcare use, increases medical impoverishment, and an abuse of  fundamental human rights ( Right to human dignity and Right to Liberty) and the right to access to medical care.

How well remunerated are the Medical /health personnel compared to their counterparts in other climes?
House Officers/ Interns are paid between N140, 000 – N200, 000 Medical officers: N180, 000 – N200,000Resident Doctors: N190, 000 – N280, 000Consultants: N700, 000 – N800, 000
Compared to their counterparts earning well over $10,000 (equivalent of N3,600,000) a month in other climes, little wonder the mass exodus of health workers.

What is their monthly/ hazard allowance ?
N5000  This is dicey in the face of Covid -19
How many have left the country for greener pastures,
About 60%  have left for greener pastures with 9 in every 10 doctors considering work opportunities outside Nigeria.

It’s time we get our priorities right: who deserves better welfare package? A doctor or a law maker? Arising from the above statistics and state of affairs, can 50% of the citizenry afford the basic sanitary products to prevent COVID 19?  Can they afford running portable water to observe the regular hand washing? Can they even afford to call the toll free numbers? Do they even have phones or access to phone? If yes are their phones charged or with credit? Do they even have access to these information? Can they afford to observe social distancing considering their peculiar accommodation ? If they stay home are they guaranteed 3 square meals.

This portends serious danger.Now the crux, if civilized climes like Britain, America, Italy and Spain with better health care, facilities and good sanitary conditions, information system and better per capita income are dying in their hundreds for Covid -19 infections, WHAT WILL BE THE FATE OF NIGERIANS? Better not imagined! O GOD ARISE for your people! Any attempt at failure to take urgent, deliberate and sincere action would be tantamount to subjecting Nigerians to mass death sentence. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED!

COVID 19 FATALITIES
Italy went from 2 cases to 400 in 26 days South Africa from 1 case to 557 in 19 days, Nigeria from 1 case to 131  in 10 days
WORRISOME.

  1. Over 311,988 people have tested positive for the virus worldwide as at Sunday 22/3/2020
  2. Data  from Johns Hopkins University reports that the virus has killed at least 35,000 people around the world.
  3. The number of cases in the U.S. has surged to 183,875 making it one of the worst hit countries in the world and has recorded 3,711 death
  4. China, Italy and Spain are harder hit than the U.S.
  5. Italy has 105,792 cases with 12,428 confirmed deaths
  6. Spain lost 8,269 people to the virus with 94, 412  confirmed cases.
  7. Though China earlier had the largest number of confirmed cases with  81,304 people testing positive and at least 3,259 deaths as at today China has 82,278 with 3,309 deaths the pandemic has largely moved to Europe and the U.S.
  8. WHO  said more cases are being reported in Europe every day than were reported in China at the height of its epidemic. (8)
  9. Most U.S. confirmed cases are in New York State, which has reported major surges in infections
  10. Forty-five states have shut down all schools, and bars and restaurants have also closed in many areas as governments ban group gatherings and instruct people to stay indoors. California and New York, among the largest economies in the U.S., have shut down all nonessential businesses indefinitely in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

STAY HOME! STOP THE SPREAD
The best and most experienced Doctors in the world have warned that the only way to stop the spread and save lives is to Stay at Home.
We therefore implore our leaders to take more drastic measures to stop the spread as well as cushion the effect of Covid-19 by making our stay at home bearable.

Provide uninterrupted power supply, no power disconnection for any reason whatsoever not even for non payment of power bill, supply sanitary products, food and water to Nigerians while at home.This is much cheaper than getting overwhelmed with treatment.

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! SAVE OUR LIVES! NO EXCUSES!!!


References
1. The Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics

2. Premium Times Monday March 23,2020

3.This Day Newspaper January 22, 2020 Article Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

4.Isaac Folorunso Adewole, the then health minister

5. http://www.nursingworldnigeria.com/2017/05/

6. Gaps in Capacity for Respiratory Care in Developing Countries. Nigeria as a Case Study by Daniel Obaseki et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc. Apr 2015NIH US national library of medicine

7. Fine lib.com

8. CNBC Health and science

9. Statistics.com

Mandy Asagba is the President African Women Lawyers Association President @awla.africa

Women Lawyers Join others to Protest Grim Killings of Young Ladies in Port Harcourt

The demand for an end to the series of killings recorded in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was further pushed by members of the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the African Women Lawyers Association local branches on Wednesday.

The protest, spearheaded by the Women in Rotary, Port Harcourt South, had 77 groups and individuals marching the street in a solemn walk against the recent murders of women in the state.

For the right to life, the women walked
Since the beginning of September, Nigerians have be inundated with chilling reports of cold blood murder of young women in hotel rooms following a similar pattern—strangulation.

A motel located in the Rumuola area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was on Sunday sealed off after the body of a young woman was discovered in one of its rooms.

It was gathered that an unknown man had lodged in the hotel with the young woman.

 

Women lawyers in Port Harcourt were part of protests staged by the civil society, Nonprofits to demand an end to the serial killings in the city Wednesday

The incident was the latest after another young woman was found dead in a hotel last Saturday in Obo, Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state.

The Protesters’ Demands
We say NO to these acts of violence and demand JUSTICE for the slain women and return of a peaceful and conducive social environment to our State. We,in the light of these violations of the rights of our women and girls have therefore embarked on this Peace Walk to STATE AND DEMAND as follows:

A thorough,unbiased and speedy investigation by the Police into all reported cases of killing of women in hotels and Motels in Rivers State and the arrest and prosecution of the culprit(s) and accomplices within 14 DAYS of this Publication.
2.A Public apology by the Police as regards the statement they made that was reported in the media branding the victims of these killings prostitutes without any proof whatsoever.

3.The mandatory installation of CCTV cameras and other necessary security gadgets around hotel premises in the State.

4.The proper identification of all Guests and details of every visitor received by their Guests while in the hotel.

5.Institution of new universal hotel policies that would include capturing of guests and visitors data, recording gadgets and equipment,among others.

6.Police emergency numbers to be posted on all hotel rooms and emergency lines at reception desk.

We therefore call on the Police to intensify their efforts and to setup dedicated phone lines and an Emergency response Unit for female victims of homicide and Sexual Violence.

On Hotel proprietors to cooperate with the Police in their efforts to fish out the killers of our women and girls and to report all shady or suspicious characters promptly to the Police, while training their staff on security measures. On members of the public, especially the women in Rivers State to be alert and avoid any questionable clandestine meetings and report any suspicious person to the Law enforcement Agencies.

We must be our sisters’ keepers!

In conclusion while we are aware that the State Government has commenced action on this issue, we urge that it should be accorded utmost priority at this time. No effort should be spared to bring an end to this menace which is very disheartening and therefore requires very serious and urgent interventions by all and sundry. We must not forget that the woman is the heart of the nation and when you hurt a woman, you hurt the entire family, State and the Nation.

The time for Action is now. SAVE OUR SOULS!

Ambode’s Wife Tasks Women Lawyers On Gender Equality, Child Rights

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has urged lawyers to evolve new ways of making more progress on gender equality, women development and child welfare, saying that no society can achieve rapid development when children and women are relegated to the background.

Speaking at the African Women Lawyers Association’s parley, held at Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of activities marking the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Ambode said it was important for members of the legal profession, especially the women among them to be at the vanguard of championing the course of issues relating to the welfare and development of women and children.

The wife of the Governor, who was decorated as Matron and Mother of the African Child at the parley, also lauded the contributions of women lawyers towards improvements recorded in child and women rights in the State, the country and the continent.

She said children and women in Nigeria and Africa faced a brighter future because of steady progress recorded in the area of their rights, noting that it was gratifying that Lagos State was the first to pass the Child Rights Law, following the footprints of the Federal Government.

Aside the Child Rights Law, Mrs. Ambode said it is on record that the State had also passed a law against domestic violence.

According to her, “Lagos State has taken proactive steps in this direction. It was the first State in the country to pass the Child Rights Law after the Federal Government pioneered the process in 2003. Under the law, children are fully protected and those who infringe on those rights are apprehended and prosecuted.

“The State also has a law in place against domestic violence. The law protects women and children against all forms of violence in the home. Through these laws, Lagos State has ensured that women and children are reasonably insulated from reckless rights infringements with impunity.”

Also speaking, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, represented by Mrs. Abiola Soladoye, praised the contributions of women lawyers to the growth of legal practice, just as she urged them to reinvent themselves and translate their numerical strength to positive actions.

In her welcome address, President of the association, Mrs. Mandy Demechi-Asagba, noted that the group stood for the protection, promotion and presentation of the rights and interest of women and children in Nigeria and Africa, stressing that they condemned all forms of violence against women, including sexual assault, child molestation, rape, child marriage, genital mutilation, abduction and other forms of discrimination and violence against them.

She said: “The association seeks to change the course of the 21st century, addressing key challenges as inequality, poverty and violence against women and girls, and stressed that violence against women and children is at its peak and requires emergency, desperate, deliberate and purposeful action before it consumes all.”

On her part, the guest speaker, Mrs. Nana Oye Lithur, who noted that child marriage was a global issue, urged the Nigerian chapter of the association to take the lead in the push for new laws to protect the rights of women and the girl-child from barbaric practices.

The parley was attended by prominent women lawyers including the first woman Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Lady Folake Sholanke.

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (right); President, African Women Lawyers’ Association – Nigeria, Mandy Demechi-Asagba (left); and COWLSO member, Mrs. Idowu Mohammed (middle), during the AWLA parley, as part of activities marking the Annual General Conference of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), at Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.