FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE:
Promoting opportunities for the emergence of the First Female Chief Judge of Osun State
The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) calls on his Excellency, Governor Rauf Aregbesola Governor of Osun State to apply the principles of gender equality and fairness to protect women’s human rights within Osun State.
Two female judges, Hon. Justice Gloria Oladoke and Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo have been identified as qualified and senior judges that can be appointed as Chief Judge in Osun State. We strongly believe that this is an opportunity for Your Excellency to increase the number of qualified women in key areas and leadership positions in the State.
The National Gender Policy recommends a minimum 35% representative of women in elective and appointive positions in Nigeria; also The 3rd Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on gender equality and women’s empowerment also recognises full involvement of women in governance and decision-making processes to facilitate the achievement of MDG 3 by 2015.
In addition, according to a global study, “In pursuit of Justice – 2011-2012 Progress of the World’s Women,” by UNWOMEN, women are under-represented in most of the highest courts and very few are Chief Justices. In the study, Nigeria was rated in the bottom at 6% on proportionality. The appointment of a female Chief Judge in Osun State would increase the overall gender ranking of Nigeria in this regard.
The NFF therefore demands that the Osun State Government;
- Apply the principles of gender equality and fairness to protect women’s human rights within your jurisdiction;
- Utilise this opportunity to improve the gender representation in decision-making in Osun State;
- Support the emergence of qualified women in all areas of endeavour in the state; and
- Promote gender equality in your policies and directives.
The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) is a group of feminists working on diverse issues around women’s rights in Nigeria.
For more information on NFF activities contact the secretariat at 16 Alhaji Bashorun Street, off Norman Williams Crescent, off Keffi Street, South-West Ikoyi, Lagos.
Telephone: +234-1-7615407, Email: [email protected], Website: www.nigerianfeministfoum.org.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
A selection of NFF members at the 3rd AFF
