WRAPA/GAA Project Presentation

 The strategic significance of women to the political development of our nation.  The electoral and constitutional impedements in the way of women to realise this potential.  The unique opportunity (GAA & CRDM IBPs) to re-establish the first and resolve the second above.

 Building on years of structured advocacy to challenge traditional and patriarchal structures  Identifying policy moments at all levels.  Devising communication strategy that sets the agenda.  Working visibility with men to confer greater legitimacy on gender issue.  Using legislative processes as a means to obtain necessary laws and policies to test practice  Working internationally and locally to share lessons.

 Secured greater recognition and understanding for gender based issues.  Forging a strategy informed by comparative advantage: Voices from civil society recognised as key technical resource this guarantees participation in policy, law and other decision making processes.  More knowledgeable women in public office  Formal platform for Civil Society – Government cooperation – GEM  Better mobilisation - one notch closer to an organized women's movement  Building and harnessing strength across differences (key operative word is GENDER)

 30% of party lists under the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) system be reserved for women and 2% for physically challenged persons in addition to representation under the First Past the Post (FPTP) system.  Associations seeking to be registered as political parties shall maintain 20% women in the membership of all its governing bodies.  AA policy for twinning in the composition of governing structures of electoral bodies and institutions (INEC Board & the Political Parties Registration and Regulation Commission (PPRRC) the Chair & the Deputy Chair should not be of same gender )  Independent candidates should be allowed to contest provided that his/her nomination is constituency based.  AA quota policy for participation in election administration. (At least one third of the 774 Local Electoral officers shall be women).  The Electoral Act should be amended to establish an Electoral Offences Commission (?? Gains)

 Creation of a political and policy analysis space in the national legislature.  Expanding the knowledge and democratic space around women’s human rights – quashing the indecent dressing bill and negotiating for a revisit of the VAW bill (2002) - Harmonising related bills on VAW ( )  Clear policy framework for gender mainstreaming – National Gender policy adopted as baseline for accountablity to gender and MDG goals for Nigeria  Tecnical and programme partnership with Gender machinery in the Executive, Legislature and CS to implement the national gender policy framework. A national framework of implementation developed through a participatory process

 Declining apprehension for international gender instruments especially CEDAW ( gains from review of strategy and expansion of advocacy base).  Emerging support for African Union Protocol on Women’s Rights.  Strengthening strategic partnerships for popularisation and advocacy for enactment of integral laws at national and state levels.  Close engagement of CS groups in engagement of institutions of faith, culture and the media around the spirit, content and benefits of international law.  Sustained engagement around landmark events and policy moments to drive home the need to avail Nigerian women addtional and alternative legal frameworks for demand and redress.

 Documenting and disseminating lessons and gains.  Shaping 2011 Pathway through constitutional & electoral reforms.  Sustained ‘chipping away’ at institutional policy & barriers.  International policy direction to dig deeper into role of women in policy and politics.  Beijing + 15 a ‘window’ for accountability

Nigerian women will niether loose hope nor resolve to seek for electoral and Constitutional reforms that will pave way for their equal and quality participation in the lectoral processes at all levels of the polity.