The United Nations and the European Union (EU) on Monday condemned gender-based violence against women during elections.

Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said violence against women in elections had been recognised as one of the key obstacles to advancing women’s participation in public life.

“Violent acts committed towards women are gender-based, and they tend to discourage women from being politically active,” she said. “It is often used to intimidate women from practising their political rights in the first place.”

Ms Eyong spoke during a post-elections conference in Abuja titled: “Where Do We Stand Regarding Electoral Gender-Based Violence?”

The Spotlight Initiative, UN Women and the EU, in partnership with the Canadian government, organised the event.

According to Ms Eyong, some women quit their positions after receiving death threats.

“Some women have also often withdrawn from public life, citing abuse, including online abuse and cyberbullying.

“Women candidates have faced various forms of targeted, gender-based violence,” she said.

Ms Eyong said the lack of data on violence against women in politics (VAWP) had negatively affected evidence-based advocacy for influencing changes in laws and policies and establishing comprehensive protection systems for women in politics.

Samuela Isopi, the Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said it was a well-known fact that women are underrepresented in Nigeria’s political environment.

“Unfortunately, the 2023 elections show a trend in the wrong direction,” she said.

Ms Isopi, represented by Esme Stuart, project manager, Human Rights and Gender Section, said concerted efforts must be made to break the barriers to meaningful participation of women in leadership positions.

According to her, the full and equitable participation of women in public life is essential to building and sustaining solid and vibrant democracies.

Djifa Ahado, Head of Cooperation, Government of Canada, corroborated that the 2023 elections saw another decrease in the overall number of women candidates, while the overall number of women elected to office at the national and state levels remained unchanged.

Ms Ahado, who said the country now ranks as one of the lowest in women’s representation in African Parliaments, said, “Together, we need to sustain the efforts and the advocacy to see a real change happening.”

Aishatu Abubakar, the AIG, Gender Advisor, Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, said during the 2023 general elections, the Nigerian police ensured that vulnerable groups like pregnant women, nursing mothers, people living with disabilities, and the ageing population were given priority to cast their votes.

“We are gender sensitive and gender-responsive. The Nigerian police are mindful of issues of gender-based violence in Nigeria,” she said.

Also speaking, the national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabagi Sani, admitted that violence and stigmatisation contributed to low women participation in politics.

He said women are the biggest player in growing a stable society, hence, the need to encourage them.

(NAN)