Women lawyers in Nigeria under the aegis
of International Federation of Women Lawyers, have expressed
dissatisfaction with the resolution passed by the Senate to retain the
provision of section 29 (4) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Under the section, a married underage girl is deemed to be an adult.
But FIDA in a statement issued on Friday
in Abuja by its National President, Hauwa Shekarau and National
Secretary, Chigoziri Ojiaka, said the constitutional provision
contravened “the general views of Nigerians as expressed during the
recent constituency consultations conducted as part of the ongoing
constitution review process.”
According to FIDA, allowing section 29
(4) (b) to remain in the nation’s constitution amounts to “a clear
negation of Nigeria’s commitment to different international and regional
treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and AU Protocol on the
Rights of Women in Africa, which all prohibit child marriages.”
The statement said, “FIDA Nigeria
reiterates that the generality of Nigerians have spoken during the
constituency consultations that section 29 (4) (b) does not deserve to
be in the constitution and therefore should be deleted.
“It, therefore, behoves the Senate to
grant Nigerians their desired wish, rather than allow itself to be
deterred by the views of an individual borne out of purely selfish
considerations. It is generally accepted that the voice of the people is
the voice of God.
“We therefore call on the Senate to
hearken to the voice of the people by reviewing and reconsidering the
resolution and by so doing, etch their names in gold and history.”
FIDA also called on the House of
Representatives to rise to the occasion and stand with the generality of
Nigerians by ensuring that the voice of the people was heard and
upheld.
FIDA has an observer status with the African Commission on Human and Peoples Right.
The group also works to promote and protect the rights of women, children and the less-privileged in the society.
No comments:
Post a Comment
We really appreciate your daily reading, please kindly drop your comments. Contact dharmonevents@gmail.com, +2348186219581, +2348089201059 for tips, Advert placement, Event Planning & Catering Services. Thank you, *Hugs and Kisses*