WINET: Stronger Women’s Movement Needed To Tackle Gender-Based Violence In Imo
The Executive Director of the Women Information Network (WINET), Mrs Miriam Menkiti, has called for a stronger and better-coordinated women’s movement to tackle gender-based violence and advance gender equality in Nigeria.
Menkiti made the call in Owerri during a one-day capacity-building training for leaders of Women’s Rights Organisations in Imo State, organised by WINET in collaboration with the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.
She said strengthening collaboration among women’s rights organisations was essential to building an effective movement capable of responding to gender-based violence and advocating for the rights and empowerment of women.
According to Menkiti, the goal of the Strengthening Women’s Movements in Nigeria (SWMN) project is to build and sustain an inclusive, well-coordinated and impactful women’s movement that can effectively advocate gender equality, social justice, and the economic and political empowerment of women.
She explained that the project is being implemented by the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, with WINET working in the five South-East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Menkiti said the Imo training was specifically organised to strengthen the capacity of women’s rights organisations in movement building and gender-based violence prevention, while equipping participants with knowledge of feminist and intergenerational leadership.
She noted that WINET had previously conducted similar training programmes for leaders of women’s rights organisations in Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states.
Menkiti urged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training to strengthen their organisations and build greater solidarity among women in the fight against gender-based violence.
One of the participants, Executive Director of Nigercare Development AID International, Dr Ijeoma Ejike, said the training had changed her understanding of feminism.
Dr Ejike said she had previously believed that feminism was exclusively about women, but gained a clearer understanding of the concept through the training.
Another participant, Executive Director of Heal Global, Dr Bestdone Gilbert, described the programme as an eye-opener, particularly on the importance of solidarity in advancing the women’s movement.
Dr Gilbert said women should become agents of change by advocating fairness and supporting fellow women.
The training featured sessions on Understanding Women’s Movements in Nigeria, Intergenerational Leadership, Feminist Leadership for the 21st Century, Values of Feminism, and Core Leadership Skills.
The sessions were facilitated by Menkiti, WINET Programme Manager, Mrs Ijeoma Obinna-Onwuka, and WINET’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer and Gender Desk Officer, Mrs Chinelo Dim.
Participants were also introduced to A Reader on Feminist Thinking and Practice in Nigeria, compiled and edited by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and Fabia Ogunmekan, with copies distributed to some participants.
Twenty-five leaders of women’s rights organisations participated in the training, which formed part of efforts to strengthen women’s movements and promote collective action for gender-based violence prevention in Nigeria.
