Centre tasks policymakers on better welfare for women, girl-child

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has stressed the need for policymakers to see to the welfare and funding of women and girls in yearly sub-national budgets. CSJ said gender responsive budget was central to Nigeria’s quest for social and economic development.

Team Lead, CSJ, Eze Onyekpere, disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, at a validation of a study undertaken by the Centre in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and European Union.

Onyekpere said critical stakeholders in budget preparation and implementation, such as the State Legislators, must show and demonstrate the needed commitment to issues that will enhance the well-being of women and girls.

He said such commitment should start right from time of appropriation, up to the point of release of funds, and the use of such funds within the context of their oversight responsibilities.

According to him, the study, entitled: ‘Quality spotlight initiative’, has an overall vision of ensuring that the vulnerable group is free from violence, and enjoy the sexual reproductive health and rights.

“Nigeria is under obligation under our constitution and national law to protect women and the vulnerable to freedom from violence. And when you want to protect them, there are steps you need to take to ensure the freedom from violence.

“The study is to review Nigeria’s commitments on national and international laws under the Constitution, under various policies, gender policy, the child rights policy, vulnerability policies, and child rights at Violence Prohibition Act.”

In his remarks, Consultant of the Study, Dr. Olalekan Obademi, said the study was set aside to know the funding profile of issues that relates with sexual violence on women and girls, harmful practices and rights of many in Lagos State.

Obademi said: “Going forward, we want to make sure that the budget spending of the state is gender responsive, capturing the issues that relates to women and girls in a functional manner.”