Rivers
Rivers Reassures Women On Partnership
Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, has assured the National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA) of its willingness to partner and support issues that concern women.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Joeba West gave the indication recently when members of the body paid her an advocacy visit in her office.
Mrs West lauded the efforts of the coalition towards the presentation and passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, and called on women to see themselves as agents of change by forming a formidable force to be reckoned with in the society.
She reiterated the need for women in decision making positions to realise that they represent the voiceless ones in the society and fight for the emancipation of women who are being denied their rights by some unfavourable traditional practices.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Coalition on Affirmative Action, Rivers State, Mrs. Florence Fiberesima thanked the Commissioner for the partnership and congratulated her on her appointment.
Mrs. Fiberesima said the National Coalition on Affirmative Action is a national body with its representatives in the state, adding that they are expected to work with the Commissioner for Women Affairs and the House Committee Chairman, Women Affairs, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Felicia Taneh.
Presenting a copy of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill to the Commissioner, Mrs Fiberesima explained that at the State level, there has been the domestication of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), while they have been mandated to push for the acceptance and passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill.
In another development the Women Affairs Commissioner has promised to reach out to women and girls in the rural areas to address their needs.
The Commissioner stated this during a stakeholders meeting in her office as part of activities marking the International Women’s Day celebration.
She described female legislators, wives of political appointees in the state and the local government area chairpersons who were all in attendance, as the focal point of the ministry in reaching out to the women and girls in the rural areas.