Authorities advised to legalise abortion
Posted by admin | 9 years ago | 2,599 times
A socialist, Drew Povey has suggested that the best way to reduce the number of women that die of abortion every day in Nigeria should be to have it legalised in any legal entity in the country.
He acknowledged that the issue of abortion has been one of many controversies in the country just like that of sexual harassment. He added that 40 years old women have abortion in Nigeria, which often led to their untimely death. But he advised that if made legal, according to a research in Britian that it would reduce the number of women in abortion because they have right to their body and should know what to do with it.
Povey, who is also a consultant on Public Sector Governance, stated this during his talk on women liberation, at the 18th Annual lecture of Kolagbodi Memorial lectures. He revealed that 101 women die every 10 minute during child labour, which he said was also applicable to the poor than the rich.
“101 women die of child labor in 10 minutes every day. It is a terror in Nigeria and are related to inequality which is applicable to the poor than the rich as a result of poverty.” He stated
In his speech on Nigerian women, and on what should change in Nigeria, what has changed before and what must be changed now, he said that “in traditional society where women are suppressed, there is violence against women, traditions that make men the bread winner and traditions that undermines the dignity of womanhood, for instance a man having girl friends outside the home causes depression to women” he said.
He advised that traditions that are inimical to progress and development should be changed. He further advised that tradition that restricts women from work and family to take care of their children should stop adding that it was so in Europe one thousand years ago till the women took a bold step and stopped it.
He however urged women to take bold steps to fight for their rights like in the days of old, when there was the Aba women riot in 1929, the Abeokuta riot in 1948, as well as that of Zaria woman in the Northern part of the country.
“The protests were not violent but they did get the marks, the Aba riot claimed 50 people out of 10, 000 people. Nigeria women of today have greater chances because they are more educated than the old, we have Ekpomo of Edo and many more so women should wake up from their slumber and fight for their rights because it has not always been like this before. Women often had authority over men because they provide them with food which we see as a gut.” He said.
He said what women want in politics was the truth, stressing that according to research they (women) have not really benefited from the present government because gender difference and inequality.
“Struggle for equality is what everyone should do something about, 96 per cent in the local government are men while 30 per cent are women, we need more women in the sector, and more positive actions.
For the union to be strengthened, he said women should be welcomed and be active in trade unionism. On what to do to for easy participation of women in the union he said “the union should think about a convinient time for meeting, have women commission, stop any discriminating actions and more gender based education programme.”
Povey also advised that men should participate in the domestic works which he said will enhance equal opportunities for a better society.
Adding to it was the community Life Project (CLP) leader, Comrade Ngozi Iwere who supported the issue of men participating in domestic work. She said “It’s a fight for social justice. It’s the fight for women right. Men don’t participate in domestic work because it is not being paid for here in Nigeria, but outside the country where it is being paid for you find them doing it even better, example is Washer men, etc.”
She however said that trade union needs to be more political. “Trade union need to be more political, we need to dialogue impunity and build a stronger alliance. Women should not only be in places where decisions are taken but in all places of decision-making” she added.
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