As the world marks International Women’s Day, stakeholders in Cross River State have called for improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities and stronger policies to protect women and enhance their participation in national development.

The call was made during a roundtable discussion facilitated by Self Help Africa in Calabar ahead of the global celebration, where participants highlighted the challenges women face in accessing basic sanitation facilities in workplaces and public spaces.

Speaking at the event, the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, urged women to speak out against oppression and demand justice whenever their rights are violated.

She emphasised that the celebration should not only focus on recognising women but also on protecting their rights and ensuring equal opportunities in education, healthcare, economic empowerment and protection from violence.

Irom also called on parents and communities to eliminate cultural practices that restrict women’s access to land, property and economic resources.

Also speaking, a member of the WASH Media Network, Abenmire Adi, expressed concern over the absence of adequate sanitation facilities in many buildings, noting that poor urban planning and weak enforcement of regulations have left many workplaces without proper toilets and hygiene infrastructure.

According to her, the situation poses serious challenges for women, particularly pregnant women, nursing mothers, menstruating girls and persons living with disabilities who require regular access to sanitation facilities.

Similarly, the Cross River State Coordinator of Child Protection Network Nigeria, Kebe Ikpi, said improving access to WASH facilities would significantly boost women’s productivity and overall societal development.

Ikpi advocated tax exemptions on menstrual hygiene products to make them more affordable and called for stronger measures to end open defecation and improve waste management systems in urban centres.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by committee chairman Scholastica Ferox, stakeholders called for stronger gender-responsive policies, increased representation of women in leadership positions and expanded economic empowerment initiatives.

In her closing remarks, Dorcas Kwamande of Self Help Africa reiterated the need for women to speak up against injustice and take their rightful place in society.