Edo Government on Thursday inaugurated Gender Policy Document as part of efforts to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV) issues and to ensure equity, fairness and justice among genders.
Inaugurating the policy in Benin, wife of the state Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, said the gender policy was put in place to correct, sanitise and address inequality and equal opportunities for all.
She said “my duty is to launch the policy but before I do that, I would like to commend GIZ Nigeria for the
support in the development and launch of this very important policy.
“This gender policy is not about womens’ rights only, it is also about mens’ rights, girls’ rights, boys’ rights,
mentally and physically challenged peoples’ rights and the rights of every human being in the society.
“Edo Government is coming up with this policiy and laws to address issues of social injustice, impropriety, criminal acts
and provide part ways for victims to get recourse and support.
“The policy is also to address issues relating to empowerment, and women’s inability to access finance.”
Obaseki said it was as a result of inequality that women were agitating for inclusion in politics, governance, against
oppression and subjecting them to harmful traditions in the society.
She added that “government is trying to enforce and institute God’s given rights so that everyone will have justice, equity and fair play in everything we do in our communities.”
She commended GIZ for partnering with the Edo Government.
Mrs Kate Okoh-Kpina, the Diversity Advisor, Gender and Diversity (Equity and Inclusion) Secretariat, GIZ Nigeria, commended the Edo Government on the launch of the policy.
Okoh-Kpina, who also represented the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and German agency — Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), said “with this launch, Edo has taken a huge stride in addressing
gender and gender parity issues.”
She added that GIZ Nigeria was committed to supporting the move through the Feminist Development Policy (FDP).
She, however, promised to continue to use its Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE) project to advocate and encourage more gender transformative approaches that promote the rights of women.
She recalled that “before the call for the policy started, we had gender neutral approach, but now we have gravitated towards a more gender sensitive, responsive and transformative approach where we try to change norms in the society.
“We encourage both men and women to have equal opportunities.
“Taking a close look at the Feminist Development Policy that was launched by the German Government in 2022, you will see that it is not just about human rights, but right representation and resources for women are being encouraged.
“This is to create an enabling platform for women to have the right to own property, and the right to act as
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