Abaribe, Ativie others seek electoral taskforce commission to reduce women violence in politics

Former Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, Senator representing Abia South District, Eyinnaya Abaribe has emphasized the need to implement a taskforce commission to reduce the rate of women violence in politics.

Making this submission during a stakeholders round table with policymakers organized by Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) yesterday in Abuja, Ativie stressed the need for the introduction of a task force of stakeholders to address cases of women violence in politics.

She said that there are policies engagement that were supposed to checkmate the menace of violence against women in politics but were not implemented.

Her words: “ If you look at the policies and the electoral laws there are embedded policy statements, policy engagements to checkmate this violence against women but we discover that they are not implemented.

She added “We are suggesting that there should be a task force of stakeholders so that when this issues comes up it would be addressed immediately. if there is any violence against a woman this taskforce should be able to appear immediately and address the issues immediately.”

Abaribe in his contribution said that the constitution has guaranteed participation of everyone and is against discrimination of anyone in any form, adding that the laws does not encourage anyone to prohibit participation in politics.

“The laws are already there, it is not the law but it is the implementations of the law, and part of our problem has always been religious, cultural and social problems that has make it difficult for women to participate effectivelyin politics. “

The Executive Director PLAC, Clement Nwankwo who disclosed that there is a campaign worldwide to end women violence in politics, noted that the country needs more women to be actively involved in politics.

“Every obstacle that stops women from playing active role in politics need to be removed, that is why we are to identify some road map towards eradicating hindrances and obstacles to women participation in politics.”