From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has selected and trained field workers to survey political hotspots in Kaduna state across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
FIDA also trained another set of young women alike on policy influencing, campaigning, monitoring, documentation and reportage of election violence against women during election observation in the state.
The pieces of training are a part of her deliberate efforts to prevent violence against women and voting-age girls in the forthcoming elections.
National Programme Manager, FIDA – Nigeria, Fikih Obaro told newsmen that, the survey was expected to highlight every risk high point areas where insecurity are heightened which may slow down women participation in the coming elections.
According to him, “FIDA-Nigeria with the support from UNWomen and the Government of Canada is implementing a project on violence against women in elections.
“This particular activity is geared towards training field workers with requisite skills so they can conduct a survey around violence in the election against women in their respective local councils.
“This survey is expected to highlight every risk high point areas where insecurity is heightened which may slow down women’s participation in the coming elections”, he said.
On her part, Chairperson, FIDA, Kaduna State, Barr Aisha Abdul Muhammed said, “FIDA wants to see that women are protected during elections.
“We have heard so many stories where women were targeted in some areas during election periods like this. As it is in Nigeria, a good number of voters are women. This is why we want to see that they are protected as they come out to vote”.
Earlier, Secretary, FIDA, Kaduna State, Barr Olufunke Bamikole said the essence of the training and expected outcome of the survey was to ensure no violence against women and girls of voting age.
“We also don’t want to see any form of discrimination against women and girls. We also want to ensure violence-free elections against these groups of voters.
“That is why we are also planning to train other stakeholders including the security agents which means we are putting all machinery in place to see a possibility of violence-free election as far as women and girls of voting age in Kaduna are concerned”, she added.