Hadiza's Blog

  The organisation has supported the Nigerian woman in key initiatives, including the National Gender Policy (2021-2026), Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, and the Third National Action Plan of UNSCR 1325. UN Women, a gender arm of the United Nations, has reaffirmed its commitment to uphold women’s human rights as well as their political and economic participation in Nigeria. Dr Nesreen El-Molla, the UN Deputy Representative to Nigeria, stated this in Abuja at a joint accountability forum and orange lighting ceremony, with the theme “ Towards Beijing +30 : UNITE to End violence against women and girls” as part of activities in commemorating the #16daysofactivism to end violence against women and girls. Dr El-Molla acknowledged that harmful practices against women remain prevalent in Nigeria despite some progress, and called for increased investment in reforms to protect their rights. “Today is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we need to invest in prevention and respon...

A High-Level Technical Working Group on Gender-Responsive Budgeting, Policies, and Institutions has been inaugurated to tackle the growing issue of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. The group, which includes representatives from government agencies and international organizations, was launched in Abuja during a High-Level Dialogue on Investment in Gender Equality and Ending Violence Against Women. The event was organized by UN Women in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigeria. Dr Abdul Kamara, the Director General of the African Development Bank, emphasized that empowering women and girls is crucial for building strong, inclusive, and sustainable economies. He stated, “When women and men, boys and girls have equal opportunities and participate in all areas of life—whether in their communities, in entrepreneurship, in parliament, or in creative industries—societies become more productive, more resilient, more peaceful, and ultimately more powerful.” Dr Kamara ...

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign observed annually, starting on November 25; ‘the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,’ and runs until December 10; ‘Human Rights Day.’  The campaign calls for sustained commitment and partnership to prevent violence and ensure justice for women and girls worldwide. Think about the girl in your neighborhood, the woman in the market, or even someone in your family. The fight against GBV is about giving these women a voice, dignity, and a future free from fear Joining the 16 Days of Activism means becoming part of the solution to end this cycle of abuse and silence. Here’s how you can engage meaningfully within the next 16 days: Speak Up:  Use social media to share facts, stories, and resources with hashtags like #16Days Volunteer or Donate : Support NGOs working to protect women and girls or offer your time to their initiatives. Advocate : Engage with policyma...

  It has become a sad and frequent reality that each day seems to bring new reports of child molestation, rape, and women enduring domestic violence. In these situations, rather than addressing the root causes of abuse, society often shifts the blame to the victim, shaming them, or labelling the assault as taboo. In many cases, the voices of survivors are silenced, leaving them isolated and without support. This toxic culture of victim-blaming only perpetuates the cycle of violence and diminishes the urgency needed to confront and end gender-based violence. The  16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based  Violence is an international campaign observed annually. It starts on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. Originally inaugurated in 1991 by activists at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign serves as a vital organizing platform for individuals and groups globally to...

  Hadiza Abdulrahman  Experts have advocated increased inclusion of women’s leadership in biodiversity to strengthen sustainable and effective conservation strategies. This was the focus of a roundtable on Women and Biodiversity Leadership, held under the Scientific Diplomacy Programme organized by the Embassy of Spain and the Spanish Cooperation Office in Nigeria, with support from the European Union. The roundtable on women’s leadership in biodiversity highlighted the crucial role of women in biodiversity conservation and discussed strategies to close the gender gap in biodiversity science. It also explored innovative approaches to integrating gender considerations into biodiversity policies. They called on stakeholders to address gender inequalities and ensure women's full participation in the sector, while also urging the government to provide adequate funding, inclusive policy development processes, strengthening network for knowledge sharing, enhance access to reso...

The UN Women in Nigeria has move to strengthened the capacity of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) towards the effective implementation of Nigeria’s 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) for United Nations Security Council Resolution UNSCR 1325, aimed at promoting women’s peace and security. At a three-day capacity-building workshop on Implementation, Compliance Monitoring, and Reporting of the 3rd National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 held in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy, UN Women Programme Manager Mr. Peter Mancha highlighted that the training would enhance systems for sustainable, multisectoral implementation of the NAP across federal and state levels.  He urged participants to carry forward these strategies within their organizations to foster widespread accountability and compliance. This training will enhance their capacity  to understand what it entails to implement, monitor, and report. After the training we will launch it official, we are waiting for t...

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen its mechanisms for addressing issues of violence, hostility, and detention in armed conflict, in a bid to safeguard human rights and uphold the rule of law in the region. The Head of the ICRC Delegation in Nigeria, Yann Bozon, made the call during an International Humanitarian Law workshop in Abuja, organized in partnership with ECOWAS. Yann Bozon called on ECOWAS to commit to the effective implementation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to tackle the critical humanitarian challenges posed by armed conflict across West Africa. The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Justice Ricardo Claudio Monteiro Goncalves, stated that the meeting will enhance members' knowledge and reaffirmed the court's commitment to upholding justice and promoting humanitarian principles in the region. Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Commu...

By Hadiza Abdulrahman  The Hadis Foundation, with support from the European Union in Nigeria and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), has equipped radio broadcast journalists with innovative practices and guidelines for reporting on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The training themed “Pathways to Inclusive Justice (P2iJ) Media Convening”, is part of preparations for the upcoming 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, organized under the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) programme, which seeks to leverage media influence to advocate for stronger action against SGBV. The Chief Operating Officer of the Hadis Foundation, Rashida Mahmood, highlighted that the training was designed to prepare journalists for their critical role in society, equipping them with the skills needed to effectively report on SGBV during the 16 Days of Activism, starting on November 25. Dr. Amina Salihu, Chair Board of Trustees of Hadis Fou...