The January 2012 fuel protests unleashed and expanded a wave of citizens monitoring Government activity. As an outcome of the occupy Nigeria Movement The Co-Creation Hub has launched a website www.iwatchlive.org where Nigerians can monitor and report on government programmes and projects at national, state and local government levels. They are the creators of the excellent infographic site on budgets in Nigeria with its dedicated mobile app www.yourbudgit.com, where you can actually redesign the Nigerian 2012 budget online to cut waste. Its fun try it!  http://www.yourbudgit.com/budget2012/

Mr. Fodeke the project leader says, “Projects going on around you that will affect the way you live, plans that may change the way you do business, promises to promote growth and protect your future will have to be monitored and documented so as to ensure public office holders are held accountable”

Visit www.iwatchlive.org and make sure programmes and projects that affect you and the sector you are passionate about are monitored. This way great successes can be duplicated and failures corrected. We at free2run encourage our readers to take charge use this tool to report on projects that are targeted at women, espically in the areas of child and maternal health.

Pamela Braide

free2run

follow me on twitter! @pdbraide

Today, March 8th is the International Day for Women as observed by the UN. What does this mean to you especially when you’re a woman the other days of the year?

The UN observances set aside a time to commemorate, promote and take action on the focus of the day, week or year.

This year the International Women Day theme is EMPOWER RURAL WOMEN – END HUNGER AND POVERTY. My caps for emphasis.

“Invest in rural women. Eliminate discrimination against them in law and in practice. Ensure that policies respond to their needs. Give them equal access to resources. Provide rural women with a role in decision-making.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

It is a day to remember, regroup and re-energise. I read through my twitter timeline and saw many people choose (or not choose) their own focus for the day. Ill share

@donnabrazille    “#International Women’s Day. Let us spend time honoring all those who came before us and those who steely shoulders we stand upon.”

@africanCeleb    “Happy #IWD @dekeju @pdbraide @rmajayi @Funmilola @toptosyn @fowora @oni_keji Everyday is women’s day but it’s nice to have a special day ”

@abikedabiri “Happy International Women’s day. I want to salute the bravery,courage and strength of every woman, especially Nigerian women…” As a woman, whether you’re at home ensuring the well being of your husband and children, or working an 8 to 5 job…..”you are directly and indirectly contributing to economic and social growth. #IWD”

@keemserve “What’s IWD when a lot of women are suffering in Nigeria, Somalia, Afghanistan and other war-torn countries across the world..#UN #IWD”

@AlertNet “Improving women’s access to skilled birth attendents in rural Nigeria, by Amina Aminu http://t.co/O8vZmO4I #iwd #iwd2012 #nigeria”

@BieberHeeterLuv “Happy International Womens Day to every women out there, remember you are STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING and so many other things #LoveYourself?”

@lawrencespencer “International Womens day is so sexist”

@WHO “Happy International Women’s Day! Ladies and gentlemen, how can we empower women to have better access to healthcare? #IWD”

@WomensInstitute “Standing up to save legal aid on International Women’s Day – will you help us? See http://t.co/b31GY6w4 #LAPSO #IWD”

@pdbraide “International Womens Day. @funmilola is climbing Kilimanjaro with others 4 women & child rights. No peak is too high #IWD”

@ReachScale “Economies with more [women participating in economy] dramatically outperform those that do not” http://t.co/qt2bMKtJ #IWD

@MarieStopes “Tweet 1 – Sophia, 17, lives in a rural village in Tanzania. Read her story: http://t.co/eFiIlOEq #womensday #15for2015 #IWD”

@UNDP: “Rural women account for nearly half the agricultural labor force – but under twenty percent of the landholders” – @HelenClarkUNDP #IWD”

@misselliemae “And to men asking when International Men’s Day is: it starts tomorrow and usually finishes on March 7 next year. #IWD”

Whatever it means to you just take time out to observe it in your own way. Commemorate, promote and act to improve the lives of women all over the world, they arent second class citizens, they are human beings.

Happy International Women’s day. Lets make the world a happy place for everyone.

UN International Womens Day

International womens day in Nigeria

Funmi Iyanda does UN Kilimnjaro climb

Pamela Braide

follow me on twitter @pdbraide

Free2run

Ikotun market women protest fuel subsidy via @LuchiesO

On January 1st 2012. The President of Nigeria announced the immediate removal of subsidy on fuel. The reaction from Nigerians culminated in protests and strikes which allegedly have now cost the economy hundreds of billions of Naira and allegedly 13 lives so far.

Here is a timeline of events.

President Goodluck Jonathan presents letter to National Assembly informing them of the intention to remove fuel subsidy.

November   2011

Nigerian lawmakers begin inquiry on increase in fuel subsidy payments from a budgeted N250billion to 1.3 trillion naira ($7.67 billion) in 2011 and invites Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister ofPetroleum Resources, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi for clarification.

Debate on subsidy removal rages in the country especially in the media and social media space.

December 2011

President Goodluck Jonathan submits 2012 budget to NASS and fuel subsidy is absent. Nigerians also question the upkeep costs in the Presidency and an unprecedented 930 billion Naira security budget.

Lagos Town Hall meeting on Fuel subsidy in collaboration with Government – attracts civil
society, analysts, business persons  and is aired on National TV, radio etc.

2012

January 1st

President Goodluck Jonathan announces removal of fuel subsidy. Prices rise from N65 to around Government regulatory agency PPPRA “recommended” price ceiling of N141. In many parts of Nigeria the cost exceeds the limit

January 2nd

First Occupynigeria  demonstrations in Abuja and Lagos. In Abuja 11 protesters including former House of Representatives member Dino Melaye arrested and later released.

January 3rd

Nigerian youths kick off an occupynigeria movement in different States.

The 1st protester to die, 23-year-old Muyideen Mustapha is killed by security forces in Ilorin.

January  5th

NLC announces “mother of all strikes”

January 6th

Government obtains Industrial Court Injunction to stop NLC strike.

NLC responds: refers to Government injunction as “black market” and vows to go ahead
with strike.

Upper House meets in emergency sessions.

January 8th

House of Representatives ask President to reverse subsidy removal.

January 9th

Labour unions and other organizations and coalitions commence National strike. Government offices are closed Nation wide and economic activity largely disrupted.

Pockets of pro fuel subsidy removal protesters emerge in Abuja and Bayelsa. The leadership of the National Association of Students, National Youth Council and National Union of Road Transport Workers declare support for fuel subsidy removals though thier constituencies seem to have ignored them.

January 12 – 13th

Labour enters meetings with Government and announce a 2 day strike break. No agreement has been reached so far.

Notes

• Though the protests have been largely peaceful a death toll of 13 has been reported so far with flash mob violence in Minna mainly targeting politicians properties
• The menace of Boko Haram remains unchecked. Bombings and killings on Christmas day, orders for Christians to leave the North shook the country.
• The turn out in Lagos has eclipsed the June 12th turnout with crowds and meeting points increasing every day.
• The protests take on different aspects in different states. In Kano muslims and christian youths protect each other during worship. In Ekiti State and Nsukka Catholic Clergy seemed to lead protest.
• The convergence of social media with on the ground organization is getting stronger. The strategic linkages and ability to achieve consensus between young activists, older activists, labour powered by social media and grassroots organizing is birthing a new chapter speaking to power in Nigeria.

Regular updates links

Chopcassava.com

Channels Tv

Occupynigeria

Enough is enough

Punch Newspapers

Vanguard Newspapers

Sahara reporters

AlJazeera

by Pamela Braide @pdbraide on twitter. follow @free2runtweets on twitter!

Domestic violence and entertainent. Those two dont go together or do they? How about entertainment and influence? I want to talk about all four.

As the 15 days for activism on violence against women and children continues I choose to look at Nigerian female musicians who have put the issue of VAW in thier artforms. Im very proud of them.

Nelly Uchendu

Waka-about – Nelly Uchendu This smash hit from the late great Nelly Uchendu MON in the 70s tells  the story of a woman and an ex boxer husband thats a batterer… Nelly Uchendu was a highlife singer with an incredible voice and gift for storytelling.

Genevieve Nnaji

No More by Genevieve Nnaji Nigerias hottest actress Genevieve Nnaji’s brief foray into music produced the highlife song No More, about a woman breaking free from an abusive situation.

Omawunmi

Omawumi

If you ask me(na who I go ask?) by Omawumi Nigerian singing sensation Omawumi collaborated with NGO Project Alert to produce this hit song bringing the disturbing issue of domestic abuse and incest to radio stations, mp3 players and speakers everywhere…  lyrics – “If you ask me; na who I go ask? The matter wey we see so, e tay wey e start. No be me go talk am, e heavy for mouth” full lyrics here

Nneka

Kangpe by Nneka Warri bred German educated Nneka embraces topics that seem heavier than her years… Her new album is actually named “Soul is Heavy” The Kangpe video is one of the best Nigerian vidoes I have ever seen… skillfully outlines the operations of a con artist and abuser hiding under the guise of a “white garment” beach side pastor. The beat is infectious… “de tin wey no fit kill you e go make you strong” lyrics here

Im sure I must have missed some so please send us more songs.

This article wont be complete without looking at women raising awareness and money to fight VAW through the medium of theatre and film…. once again this list isnt exhaustive so please share any others you know of

V monolgues on stage by Isaac Emokpea

V Monologues – The Nigeria adaptation of the Vagina Monologues by KIND and partners has featured many Nigerian actresses, celebrities and producers dedicated to the issue. Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw, Omawumi, Yinka Davies, Funmi Iyanda, Najite Dede, Rita Dominic etc

Damage triology by Uche Jombo

Damage – a movie on domestic abuse and its ruinous effects on families by Nollywood star Uche Jombo is the 1st of a trilogy of interwoven stories.

There are many many more movies but I stop here and listen to feedback…

Thanks

Pamela Braide is a contributor and curator of free2run.

It’s hard to see any value in the ABSU Rape Video saga (as it shall forever more be known despite the Abia State government’s threats) but it sparked widespread national outrage and finally focused media and federal government attention on violence against women in Nigeria. That’s a good thing. The Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Youth Development and the relevant National Assembly committees have all rolled out belated but laudable initiatives to reduce rape and violence against women in the country.

While we must applaud the flurry of activity by various state and non-state actors and the rush to pass bills with stronger penalties (something that will make VAW activists who have struggled to get them passed for years very happy) the new laws and the behavioral change strategies proposed cannot have short or mid-term impact on the security of our girls and young women unless we improve prosecution of rape cases.

The old Nigerian cliché that says enforcement is our problem not laws is sadly true in this case. The crimes of rape and sexual assault and their penalties have always existed in our Criminal Code, the Penal Code and under customary law.  According to a 2006 Amnesty International report on rape in Nigeria that cited several national civil society organizations the great challenges have been getting victims to report and the police to investigate and prosecute rape.

The AI report says social stigma is a major reason rape is under reported. How is that stigma correlated with the insensitive and traumatic treatment victims can expect to experience with the police and the criminal justice system in Nigeria? According to the same AI report state actors especially the police are the major perpetrators of rape and violence against women. How do we expect them to impartially investigate reports of rapes? How do we expect them to be sympathetic to victims brought to them for justice and protection?

The Abia State commissioner of police is on public record saying  that Ms. X, the woman  in the video in question, seemed to him to have consented to the sexual intercourse or else she was being ‘punished’ for some real or imagined slight to one of man. Most significantly he revealed that the police are aware that young women are being raped and videoed as a means of punishment and social control. It is not unreasonable to deduce from his words that they also condone it.

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State himself a publicly known cultist narcissistically suggested that his political enemies staged the revolting and dehumanizing video to make him look bad. I’m not sure whether who is worse, him or his political enemies. Is anyone still suggesting that a woman’s mode of dress is what leads to rape? It is well established that rape has nothing to do with uncontrollable sexual desires and everything to do with power and social control.

There is an epidemic of rape in Nigeria and our chief protectors and prosecutors are also our chief rapists. Can making new laws, public relations, public campaigns to reduce stigma and victim support services solve the problem? It can’t if we don’t retool the police force and the criminal justice system to increase prosecution and convictions for rape. In the past decade a number of citizen sector initiatives have designed and carried out rape management training for small groups of judicial and police force officers. However, their impact has been weak and localized to just a handful of communities.

In the United Kingdom the police and criminal justice system were transformed over a period of 20 years after a series of independent investigations identified key challenges to prosecuting rape cases. Many of the changes were the result of legal precedent and policy change, not legislation. Today they have specially trained police officers in specially designated units working with prosecutors to ensure that both victim and accused are adequately protected from abuse of the system. The processes are contained in a public policy document from the Crown Prosecution Services.

Does creating a new unit in the police force and training them require new legislation or new regulations from the line ministry or the Inspector General’s office?  What is required to change the curricula at the Police Training Academy to include training on violence against women generally and rape in particular? Furthermore how pervasive is rape by policemen? Is there a presumption that all policemen are guilty but what’s the evidence that what we’re dealing with is not a minority of rogue cops? Credible data is essential to formulating a corrective strategy.

How does the Director of Public Prosecutor’s office handle rape cases? Are these processes public and subject to monitoring and evaluation? Does the public prosecutor’s office have a policy or guidelines for handling allegations of rape? Is there specific training and support provided to individual prosecutors that handle rape trials? Can the Attorney-General make policy guidelines or regulations for handling rape cases?

The Amnesty International report also highlighted the challenge presented to successful prosecution of rape cases by restrictive evidence rules, for instance the requirement that medical reports must be from a public hospital to be admissible in a court of law. The Nigeria Police and courts do not accept medical reports from private hospitals as evidence in rape trials. Is this a rule of practice or a statutory requirement? Could this practice be challenged in the courts? Or do we require a legislative review?

Customary law, which includes Sharia law in Nigeria, is also applicable in rape cases and takes precedence if inconsistent with the constitution. Can the multiplicity of customary laws that exist in Nigeria override constitutional protections if chosen as the applicable personal law? Under the customary law of some groups the punishment for rape ranges from banishment, a fine paid to the victim’s father or family group or enforced marriage to the victim of the rape. With the exception of banishment these are also the sort of sanctions we frequently see negotiated between a victim’s and her rapist’s family and mediated by the police when rape is reported to them.

Under Sharia law it’s almost impossible to prove rape, the requirement for at least 4 male witnesses that must all agree it was actually rape is both unreasonable and improbable. There are even records of victims that reported a rape and were instead charged with adultery, a crime punishable with death by stoning or zina a lesser crime punishable with caning. How do we ensure that our girls and women are protected under customary law and from repressive customary laws?

According to AI in most reported cases of rape the victims were minors. This is corroborated by a women’s led citizen sector organization protecting women’s rights in the country that recently listed the number of rape prosecutions they were supporting and discovered that all their cases involved minors presumably because it is easier to establish a lack of consent. Defense lawyers in rape trials frequently attack the credibility and the morals of the victim to try and prove implied consent. What does Nigerian case law say about consent in rape? How does the Nigerian bench define consent?

Disturbing fallout of the ABSU Rape was the exposure of the monumental degree of public ignorance about consent and what constitutes an appropriate response during rape from the victim.  Many public commentators on the issue felt that Ms. X did not resist violently enough and was not brutally beaten or visibly injured to have been actually raped. By definition all a woman has to do is say NO, she does not have to fight or sustain injuries to prove that she was raped. As a matter of fact VAW counselors have been advising women for years not to violently resist rape if there is no obvious escape in order to minimize physical injury and trauma. However what the courts have to say about it is far more important. What precedents are the honorable members of the Nigerian bench setting and how can we impact them?

Since the video first appeared the calls for Ms. X, the unidentified woman in the video, to turn herself in (as if she were the criminal) have abated as focus has shifted away from her as an individual to the bigger problem of endemic sexual violence against women generally and on campuses in particular. Is that a good thing? I certainly hope it is but it has also occurred to me that she may have been killed. It won’t be the first time in Nigeria. More visible and powerful figures have been killed with no consequences. After all the rapists are rumored to have political, cultic and occultic connections and the Abia state police commissioner did keep on insisting that his hands were tied unless she comes forward.

“Thou doth protest too much”

We can but pray. And prosecute

read article here

Mz Agams modestly describes herself as “An African Feminist Practising Law”

She has in the past founded the Womens Crisis Shelter, headed Asoka and Oxfam in Nigeria and is a feminist lawyer, social entrepreneur and writer practising Family Law and doing public policy litigation for women’s rights in Abuja.
She is currently building the Women’s Legal Defence Trust Fund to ensure that litigation of women’s rights cases is sustained, producing a documentary on domestic violence and promoting Naija By Nature Ltd. a social enterprise that helps young graphic designers showcase their talent and earn a living. Her first collection of prose, poetry and photography will be published in 2012.

more on Linked in

Become Today’s Change Agent

CALL FOR APPLICATION: VALUES AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS PROGRAMME

About LEAP Africa

Leadership Effectiveness Accountability Professionalism (LEAP) Africa is a nonprofit organization, which is committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African Leaders.

Since 2004, LEAP has equipped over 20,000 youth between the ages of 16-30years with skills and tools that they require to serve as effective change agents in the society through its Youth Leadership Programme. In turn, these youth have initiated high impact social projects in their local communities.

About the Values & Leadership Skills Programme

The Values and Leadership Skills Programme (VLSP) is a three-day workshop designed to inspire, empower and equip Nigerian youth with the life and value-based leadership skills required to cope with life’s challenges and serve as exemplary change agents in their local communities. The training challenges youth to act as responsible citizens that model ethical behaviour and contribute to community development Youth Leadership.

The workshop will be offered free of charge to 50 select youth in Lagos, Abuja & Enugu States. Participants will be provided with learning materials during the training and those who satisfactorily complete the programme will receive a certificate of completion.

Sponsors

The Values and Leadership Skills Programme is funded by the Foreign & Common Wealth Office of the United Kingdom Government.

Target Participants

Youth between the ages of 18 to 30, who are passionate about community service and have a strong interest in developing leadership skills.

*All past beneficiaries of LEAP’s youth programmes are not allowed to apply for this programme.

For Application, contact Asuquo Asuquo; aasuquo@leapafrica.org or call him on 012706541-2 for any additional information.

Olumide IDOWU | LEAP Alumnus.

LACSOP CALL FOR APPLICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAPPING OF THE 40 LEGISLATIVE CONSTITUENCY OFFICES INLAGOS STATE TO ASCERTAIN THEIR RELEVANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS ON THEIR PRIMARY CONSTITUENCIES.

The Lagos State Civil Society Partnership (LACSOP), as part of its Joint Action Plan with the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) is facilitating the development of a strong relationship between Lagos State Civil Society, the Media and LAHA to engender a paradigm shift in their perceptions from confrontational to partnership by increasing citizens’ voice and accountability.

The wide gap between citizens and elected representatives is a notable defect in Nigeria’s democratic process resulting in highhandedness and poor accountability by elected representatives in the State House of Assembly who have failed to make policies and laws that will influence the live of their constituents positively.

During the previous and this present political dispensations, especially between 2007 and 2011, the performance of the elected officials most especially, members of the House of Assembly has not been too rewarding for the constituents because it appears that there were little or no structure(s) that encourage citizens’ voice and participation.

It is not certain if there are constituency offices in most of the constituencies in Lagos State, and where constituency office(s) exist, it is not certain if the constituents are aware of the existence and if they are put to maximum use.

It is best practice for elected officials to have constituency offices through which constituents can engage them and the legislators too can pass information to the people.

It is in the light of the above that LACSOP wishes to carry out a Legislative Constituency Office survey in Lagos State to determine the existence of constituency offices, their location and their functions to the constituents.

We are therefore inviting applications from CSO Networks and Coalitions who are MEMBERS of LACSOP to nominate their qualified members to serve as questionnaire administrators in the focal LGs/LCDAs scheduled for November 2011.

Note: The CSOs must:

1. Have a track record of involvement in governance and citizens’ participation at the LGAs/LCDAs in Lagos State

2. Be active in at least one LG/LCDA located in Lagos state

3. Be a Valid member of any of LACSOP CSO network members

4. Be nominated by their network

To apply by a simple email from the network’s representative with the CV of the CSO representative attached.

Kindly send your nominations immediately to: lacsop@gmail.com as only a limited number of applications can be accepted and close of applications will be by midnight on Tuesday 7th of November, 2011.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Ayo Adebusoye

for: LACSOP Steering Committee