Why stakeholders seek women’s rights protection

Women who are trapped in conflict situations are not just victims of killings and bodily harm, the economy of their families is also put in jeopardy. To protect the economic ecosystem of women, stakeholders are of the view that designing comprehensive interventions to address their in a necessity, COLLINS OLAYINKA writes.

Women are the greatest casualties of wars and conflicts as losing their husbands is a painful experience but their inability to access markets and job opportunities to fend for children who are left behind is a double tragedy.

Stakeholders said the inclusion of gender-sensitive strategies in policy frameworks, such as those outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement, provides a relevant model for addressing the needs in the context of broader policy agendas.

They added that humanitarian interventions must prioritize the rights and well-being of women and girls by ensuring access to essential services like healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

Collaborations between governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and local communities are essential for breaking the cycle of vulnerability and promoting resilience among displaced populations.

Around 3.3 million people were living in internal displacement as a result of conflict and violence at the end of 2023, about half of them in Borno state. This was a slight decrease from the 3.6 million reported in 2022, but Nigeria was still among the ten countries with the largest number of IDPs globally.
In their submissions at a roundtable to review three research studies supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation West Africa, Dr Richard Gokum of the Department of Theology, Chinaemelum Okafor of the Department of History and International Relations and Dr Anweting Ibok of the Veritas University, Abuja were unanimous that women in conduct situations need a specific policy that guarantees not only their safety but income.

Dr Anweting Ibok, who reviewed, ‘Effects of Bwari conflict and Enugu Sit-At-Home on women’ written by Dr Ikechukwu Ugandu and Dr Nneamaka Obodo, said the two conflicts had robed the women economically and otherwise.

Ibok observed that in Africa, violent conflict arises from material conditions of poverty and deprivation which provided a fertile ground for politicising, ethnicity and for preventing religious ideology from flourishing.He identified politicization of religion and ethnic differences, fear of being scheme out of politics and socio-economic benefits as underlying factors behind identity conflict, natural resources as drivers of conflict which arises through accumulation or control of resources which can become an object of war, armed groups fight over its control of land, population and resources leading to forceful displacement from the ancestral homeland, economic and resource control as causes of conflict in Nigeria.He also stated that the authors acknowledged that women play a vital role in the economic system as they engage in trade.

“In war situations, women are involved in providing support services to combatants and actively engage in arms fight and light weapons just like their male counterparts. In the same vein, women serve as cooks and run errands and wives and mistresses are made of them. Women are deeply involved in the informal peace process. Women constantly advocate for the prevention of conflict before they begin and commit themselves to heal the wounds after they have occurred.”

The varsity dons held that the burning of shops, and properties and loss of livelihood resulted in economic hardship and raised the case of feminisation of poverty as a result of conflicts had on women who were at the centre of the economic life of the community.

He added: “Nonetheless, lack of support for women heightened the effect on the inhabitants of affected communities. Socio-psychological effects manifest through distortion of family life. Family life was greatly impacted at the level of children and parents. Children discontinued schooling though for a short time and joined their parents to flee the affected community. In the case of Enugu, the social impact cut across all sectors and social groups. The effect was witnessed in education, banking, business, civil service, church and so on. Restriction of movement prevented people especially women from going to earn income to care for their families.”

Reviewing ‘The impact of farmers-herders crisis on the quality of life of women and girls in Internally Displaced Camps in North Central Nigeria’ Dr Richard Gokum maintained that Freud’s theory of trauma’s concepts of unconscious trauma is relevant in understanding the long-term psychological scars left by violence and displacement.

Women and girls in IDCs are particularly vulnerable to trauma-related distress due to the compounded nature of their experiences.He added that the social consequences of displacement, including family separation and the loss of community networks, are critical to understanding the broader societal impacts of the farmer-herder crisis.

“Women’s social isolation and stigmatization, both within IDP camps and in host communities, point to the need for community reintegration programs. However, the study could explore more deeply how these social dynamics influence the mental and emotional well-being of women and girls, especially in terms of their long-term resilience and recovery,” he said.

The scholar held that while the study effectively discusses the role of NGOs and government agencies in providing immediate relief, it also critically highlights the insufficiencies of the interventions, especially in terms of long-term support and sustainability.

He explained: “The lack of inclusion of displaced women in decision-making processes regarding aid distribution and the failure of aid programs to address the root causes of displacement call for a more participatory approach to humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the review could benefit from a more comprehensive analysis of local governance and policy frameworks that may either hinder or facilitate effective intervention.”

According to him, the study draws attention to the complex, intersecting challenges faced by women and girls in IDP camps, with a particular focus on trauma and its enduring impact on quality of life.

His words: “The high rates of psychological distress, trauma symptoms, and GBV indicate urgent gaps in psychosocial support and protection services. The study’s findings align with existing literature on conflict-related trauma and gender inequality in displaced populations, further emphasizing the need for trauma-informed, gender-sensitive interventions in humanitarian responses.”

Dr Chinaemelum Okafor of the Department of History and International Relations of Veritas University who reviewed, ‘Effects of Bwari Conflict and Enugu Sit-at-Home on Women’ written by Dr Ikechukwu Ukandu and Dr Nneamaka Obodo, agreed that women are often the first to bear the brunt of violence, economic disruption, and displacement, as seen in both the Bwari Conflict and the Enugu Sit-at-Home protests.She argued that despite their vulnerability, women often play pivotal roles in peacebuilding and sustaining families during crises.

“This dual perspective positions women not only as victims but also as potential agents of positive change in post-conflict recovery,” Dr Okafor added.
She submitted that by analysing the Bwari conflict and the Enugu sit-at-home protests side-by-side, the study identifies both commonalities and differences in their impact on women.

“The report highlights unique dynamics in each case, shaped by the specific historical and socio-political conditions of the regions. Both conflicts disrupt women’s economic activities, compromise their safety, and strain community resources. The Bwari conflict is rooted in ethnic and territorial disputes, while the sit-at-home protests arise from political agitation and secessionist movements. These differing origins create unique dynamics in how women are affected and respond. This comparative approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of how context shapes the gendered impact of conflict,” Dr Okafor explained.