Need Assessment for International Women’s Day
News from Loretta Ahuokpeme
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Initiative, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
“I am so excited because I am part of this life changing event.” – Loretta Ahuokpeme
The Women Peace & Security Network is a coalition of NGOs that are working on peace building, reduction in violence against women and girls, as well as working with policy makers for the domestication of the National Action Plan (State Action Plan) adopted from UNSCR 1325. So far, the State Action Plan has been launched in Rivers State in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Deputy Governor of Rivers State Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo. In line with the above, the implementation is being strategized.
Based on the above, 8th March is International Women’s Day and Women Peace & Security Network was invited by the Ministry of Women Affairs to be part of the technical committee to plan the event. One of the resolutions reached at the strategic meeting and as part of the implementation of the SAP, was an intensive need assessment be carried out to ensure that no woman is left behind on this year’s commemoration. WPSN was charged with some of our members and some staff of the ministry to come up with a questionnaire that will capture the essence of the event. The questionnaire is ready and the enumeration exercise has started in earnest.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Ukel Oyagiri, who constituted this committee, is committed to this programme and wants to make sure that whatever activities lined up for the IWD after the validation of the need assessment will run for one year and thereafter be built upon in subsequent years. It has been a tasking activity but rewarding because our government is taking action on issues concerning women and working in line the Sustainable Development Goals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,13, & 16.
All members of our Network are committed and working seriously to make sure that the enumeration process will align with this year’s theme — Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives and the campaign #PressForProgress pays off for women in the Niger Delta Region and indeed the whole country. More updates as the program progresses.
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