By Angela Atabo
Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria on Wednesday advocated for equal and safe digital space for women and girls as the world celebrates International Women’s Day.
Mr Amanuel Mamo, Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media, SCI Nigeria, made this known in a Statement to newsmen as part of its activities to mark IWD in Abuja.
The theme for IWD is entitled: “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.”
He also called on all stakeholders to draw attention and interest towards the celebration of women across all spheres of life.
“For us at Save the Children, equality means ensuring that all human beings women, men, girls and boys are considered equal and are treated equally.
“We shall continue to pursue our dream of a world where all girls and boys are equally heard and valued.
“Women and girls must be able to engage, create, learn and work, safely and productively either online or offline, making the most of all the opportunities in every sphere of life and at every stage of it, in education, in the economy, in society and in politics,” he said.
Mamo therefore, called on governments, donors, partners, the international community, and key stakeholders to support the efforts of turning digital platforms to safe and accessible space for women and girls.
He added that stakeholders should also translate commitments into reality in prioritising the empowerment of women and girls, including on the online platforms.
Mamo said that SCI strongly supported the need for equity for men and women, boys and girls in schools, homes, offices, businesses, innovations and political space.
He said that the opportunities available for women, particularly the girl child, should be backed up with policies, strategies and structures that would ensure that they excel.
Mamo also captured the views of some SCI children advocates calling for equal opportunities for all.
Accorfing to him, Miss Khadija Badamasi, SCI Nigeria Girl Champion from Yobe State says she wants to live in a world where education is an instrument that is capable of correcting inequality in any society.
“I want to live in a world where early and forced marriage is eradicated, where there is no discrimination against women and children.
“I want to live in a world where no child is left behind. Hence, I would like to call upon policy makers to enhance efforts to ensure that gender equality is a reality on the digital space as well,” she said.
Also, a Girl Champion from Cross River, Miss Etukudo Dominic, said that a girl should have the same rights as a boy, which should include rights for information technology, education, social treatment, and basic necessities.
“We will continue to advocate for our rights as human beings, not as girls. We deserve to live to our full potential and have fair and equal treatments and opportunities in life,” she said.
Miss Ramatu Umar-Bako, Senior Gender Equality, and Inclusion Adviser, SCI Nigeria, said that the world could only make progress in the conversation about equality when it embraced equitable concepts.
“This involves taking concrete steps to address diversity and ensure inclusive policies,” she said.(NAN)
