Activities For International Women's Day 2011

The first Activity was a lecture on the 7th of March to sensitize senior secondary school girls of Franej International High School Benin City on the 2011 International Women's Day.

Below is the lecture

LECTURE ON 2011 IWD BY AMANDA AJUFOH ACTION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

We are here to speak to you about the International Women's Day.

What is the international women's day?

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women past, present, and future. It is also a platform where women highlight their challenges and call for positive changes. As we speak,70% of the world's poor are women.1 out of every 3 women is a survivor of violence against women . 2/3 of 110 million children not in school are girls

Theme for 2011 International Women's Day is "equal access to education, training and technology”

For there to be equal access to education, training and technology two things must be done.

1.There must be enabling laws and policies that will promote equal access.

2.Women must rise to bridge the gender gap (the gap between men and women as it pertains to education training and technology)

First with respect to the first which has to do with enabling laws,The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) requires that countries party to the Convention take all appropriate steps to end violence. Till this very minute the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to domesticate the CEDAW document.

Globally, up to six out of every ten women experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. A World Health Organization study of 24,000 women in 10 countries found that the prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner varied from 15 percent in urban Japan to 71 percent in rural Ethiopia, with most areas being in the 30–60 percent range.

Violence against women and girls has far-reaching consequences, harming families and communities. For women and girls 16–44 years old, violence is a major cause of death and disability. In 1994, a World Bank study on ten selected risk factors facing girls and women in this age group, found rape and domestic violence more dangerous than cancer, motor vehicle accidents, war and malaria. Studies also reveal increasing links between violence against women and HIV and AIDS. A survey among 1,366 South African women showed that women who were beaten by their partners were 48 percent more likely to be infected with HIV than those who were not.

Girls and women in Nigeria must unite to ensure that enabling laws for gender equality and safety of girls and women are promulgated. So that by the time girls become women, the nation would be safer for them than it is now.

Girls and women must also rise to bridge the gender gap in the area of Education.

In universities in Nigeria, the percentage of girls studying courses like engineering, medicine, architecture, and other core science subjects is less than 30%. And these are professions with high pay. Thus for there to be equal access to education in these courses we challenge the girls in Franej and Nigeria in general to begin to excel in the sciences and go into Nigerian Universities to study these courses.

Also in the area of information and communication technology (computer) there is a serious gender digital divide. 90% of highly skilled IT professionals are men. Areas like computer animation, system automation, computer engineering, programming, data base administration e.t.c continue to be monopolized by men. Girls and young women should take up the challenge to go into these areas and excel. For indeed what a man can do a woman can do better. Great women like Professor Dora Akunyili, Professor Alele Williams, Dr Mrs Ejiks Uzu have proven beyond reasonable doubts that women can rise to the pinnacle of their chosen career. All that is required is Hardwork and commitment to excellence. Thank you very much.