From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bayelsa chapter has emphasized the urgent need for legal frameworks to protect women amid climate change’s impacts.
Chief Judge Hon. Justice Matilda Ayemieye state this recently at 2024 Law Week, themed “Legal Protection and Enforcement of the Rights of Women: Tackling Climate Change.”
Justice Ayemieye represented by Hon. Justice Timi Songi emphasized that the rights of women must be protected in a safe environment that is crucial in the fight against climate change.
“By nature, women’s rights are peculiar, they are gender rights, gender based violence is increasingly alarming so there’s a need to constantly talk about the protection of women and children,’ she noted.
She called on all relevant stakeholders to increase advocacy of laws that protect women’s rights particularly in the rural areas in the face of climate changes.
Also speaking, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon Biriyani Dambo represented by Hon Peretimi Peterside pointed out that there is a need for all to be committed to advancing the cause of women’s rights by engaging in discussions that promote legal reforms aimed at advancing women’s rights.
Attorney General Hon. Biriyani Dambo therefore, called for commitment to advancing women’s rights through legal reforms.
Delivering a lecture on the theme, Associate Dean, Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Professor Samuel Dike stressed the need for educating women as an empowerment to deal with climate change crisis.
Professor Dike urged women to assert their rights by increasing their participation in governance, politics and decision making process.
“In a climate change induced environment, women and children suffer more, it affects right to quality life, dignity of women, increase in diseases caused by heat, it exacerbate hunger, it make women more vulnerable and increases GBV due to conflicts”
He called for partnership and cooperation regionally and globally, strengthening international laws to improve the rights of women to access the benefits of climate change.
In a goodwill message, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yenagoa Branch, Barrister Somina Johnbull commended the executive members of FIDA Bayelsa State for organizing the event and the ingenuity of the discussions aimed at protecting and preserving the rights of women and children in the state.
In her welcome address, Chairperson, FIDA Bayelsa State chapter, Deme Debra Pamosoo, Esq noted that they would continue to advocate for legislation that would promote the advancement and protection of women and children as their wellbeing depends on the happiness of the home and the strength of the society.
She expressed appreciation to the Bayelsa state government, the Police, Ministry of Justice, GRIT, NGOS, International donors and all other stakeholders who have assisted FIDA to achieve their goals and objectives in the last three years.
Pamosoo, expressed gratitude to stakeholders like Woman organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network, (WOMAN), Starz Safety Initiative, SSI and several others, supporting their advocacy efforts.
