Gender inclusiveness: Group advocates review of electoral processes

In a bid to promote gender inclusiveness in politics at all levels, ‎a non- governmental organisation, Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN) has called for a review of the various electoral processes to accommodate more women participation in voting and being voted for.

Speaking during the WSRN Stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, the National Coordinator WSRN, Joy Onyesoh said: “It entails observing the different processes from voters registration ,PVC validation, gender composition of electoral officials deployed to polling units, to accessibility of the polling booths for all including pregnant women, elderly and women with disabilities.”

Onyesoh noted that election observation from a gender perspective creates visibility for largely ignored gendered issues like long waiting times and its impact on men and women. She said: “It brings to the fore voting patterns, gender bias and stereotype within specific context.”

WSRN noted that there is a need to observe elections from a gender perspective as it is also believed that the fear of real or perceived elections-related violence is a major deterrent for women’s political participation.

Onyesoh explained that gender sensitive election observation builds synergy between government, media and Civil Society organisations.

“It also helps to promote participation of women in elections and creates an enabling environment for women’s rights to be actualized,” she said.

On security, Onyesoh tasked the Nigerian Police to discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour while upholding the human rights and dignity of all persons, expressing the hope that INEC as an umpire in the process, would ensure timely take off of the election process and deploy a gender sensitive administrative team at each polling unit.

The Women’s Situation Room Nigeria ( WSRN) is a platform that promotes women’s political participation at all levels. In Nigeria, Women’s Situation Room (WSR) was launched in 2015 with the support of UN Women for the primary purpose of election observation. After the 2015 General Elections, Since it’s launch, it has set up structures in the 36 States of the Federation with a National Secretariat in Abuja.

WSRN has consistently observed Staggered State Elections and some Local Government Elections with a primary goal of using a gender lens to critically observe the process.