Statements or documents submitted
Commission on Sustainable Development:
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IMPLEMENTING THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA: MOVING FROM COMMITMENT TO RESULTS The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Report by the Secretary-General are 17 goals We shall discuss Achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls under 5.6A and 5.6C of the goals. In commenting on 5.6A it is noted that the National Law in Nigeria is the 1999 Constitution but we have local laws/customary laws. The constitution frowns at discrimination in all its ramifications. In Igbo land which is the South East of Nigeria, the customary law prohibits a woman from inheriting the property of her husband or her father as that is exclusively for the male children. To side track this law one has to make a valid will. Umuada Igbo Nigeria has been fighting this discrimination and has held many workshops/lectures, the last of which was held in Enugu in February 2014 during the United Nation Mother Tongue Day. Providentially in April 2014 the Supreme Court in Mrs. Lois Ukeje & Anor v. Mrs. Ada Ukeje (2014) 4SC part 1 page 1, Onyibor Aniekwe v. Mrs. Maria Nweke (2014) 4SC Part III page 65 declared the customary law disinheriting women as null and void as being inconflict with S.42 of the Constitution which is the National Law. The Supreme Court after nullifying the customary law held that a widow shall inherit the property of her husband irrespective of having no male issues. The other case upheld the inheritance of the father’s property by her daughter. The reason Umuada Igbo Nigeria is fighting this customary law is to empower women, widows and girl child by having access to land the source of wealth. Under 5.6C Umuada Igbo Nigeria is holding workshops/lectures in Igbo land ie. South East Nigeria educating girl child to choose marriage under the Marriage Act to avoid being disinherited by customary law on inheritance. We also advise our women to encourage their husbands to write wills so that their widows and children may have better life because if there’s no valid will the relations of the man at his demise will take all the property of the deceased if he has no surviving male child. Umuada Igbo Nigeria has embarked on advocacy visits to the communities to enlighten women on the Supreme Court judgment. We also give free legal services to oppressed widows to fight for their rights. We now organize other NGOs to persuade the Houses of Assemblies of the various states to have legislations to accord with the Supreme Court judgment. Solutions Many problems facing women in Igbo land i.e South East can be addressed through ‘Radio Programmes. This is a Public Enlightenment Programme to educate and sensitize the South East women on their rights of inheritance. Umuada Igbo Nigeria has started sensitizing the women and girls on the Supreme Court judgment on inheritance Rights in Igbo Culture. It will also ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life. https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/events/2016/ecosoc-high-level-segment-theme-implementing-post-2015-development-agenda-moving |
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