Int’l Women’s Day: NHRC urges women to be bold in fighting corruption
NAN-H-102
Corruption
By Wandoo Sombo
Abuja, March 7, 2017 (NAN) Mrs Oti Ovrawah, Acting Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has called on Nigerian women to be bold in fighting corruption, to ensure full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Ovrawah made the call on the eve of the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, noting that corruption was responsible for gross human rights violation everywhere in the world.
In a statement signed by Fatima Mohammed, the Chief Press Officer of the Commission, Ovrawah claimed that rights violation on account of corruption adversely affected women, children and the less privileged members of the society the most.
She used the opportunity of the IWD celebration to call on all Nigerians to shun discrimination against women and girls, noting that it was still rampant.
The acting executive secretary said that equality for women was progress for all, noting that countries with higher level of gender equality had higher economic growth and better protection for rights of women.
Ovrawah called on the government to commit to women and the girl child’s rights, to enable females to live free from violence in all circumstances and have equal say in decision making that affect their lives.
She said this year’s theme “Be Bold for Change” was therefore relevant, as it was a reminder to every woman to rise up and take a bold step to be part of change for better life for women.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Women’s Day, originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8, every year.
It is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as call for gender parity.(NAN)
WS/BOLA/SOA
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Oluwole Sogunle