The Federal Government has unveiled the revised National Gender Policy to promote gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion in all sectors for equitable distribution of the nation’s resources and opportunities.
Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen unveiled the policy in Abuja during the Symposium and Public Lecture on National Accountability to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as part of events to mark the 16 days of Activism to end violence against women and girls.
She explained that the revised national Gender Policy would compel all MDAs to incorporate gender perspectives in their budgeting process to equitably cater for the needs of all segments of the population.
“Mr President made a pronouncement statement calling on all MDAs to include gender in their budgeting systems. We must ensure that all our MDAs include gender in their budgeting to address gender equality, women empowerment and social inclusion,” she said.
While giving an overview of the 2021 revised National Gender Policy, a resource person, Professor Olabisi Aina said the goal of the policy was to establish a just society devoid of discrimination and establish equal rights.
“The 2006 gender policy was located on two pillars, the pillars were gender equality and women empowerment. But today we have learnt more lessons and we know that those who suffer in our society are not just women, there are also men who suffer because of their situation,” she said.
Representative of Oxfam Nigeria, Mrs Ifunfun Akinduro urged government to seek alternative measures to end austerity such as gender responsive budgeting and progressive taxation for the poor and regressive taxation for the rich, “this will enable corporations and wealthy individuals to pay their fair share and a transparent and prudent purposeful social protection for women in informal and unpaid care work,” she said.
The event also featured the sharing of experiences by different stakeholders in their fight against gender based violence and resolve to work together as a united front to address it at all levels.