PRESS STATEMENT
COMMEMORATING 2023 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: MARCH, 8TH
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) wishes to felicitate with working women and indeed all women on this very important occasion of the 2023 International Women’s Day. This is indeed the right time to commemorate the political, socio-economic achievement and rights of women at home, workplace, union, society, nation and the whole world.
This years’ global theme for the International Women’s Day is “Innovation and Technological change; Education in the Digital Age for achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls”. This is apt and we call on all to support this noble course. We wish to also use this opportuning to reiterate our commitment to continually advocate for the adoption and implementation of policies and strategies that promote gender equality in the workplaces, Unions and the Labour movement.
The National Women Commission has adopted the Global Campaign Theme which is captioned “Embrace Equality” and also adapted it to focus on “Embrace Equity: Towards Gender Equality in the World of Work”. This is targeted at strengthening the campaign to stop gender-based violence at work in line with the ILO Convention 190: “Concerning the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work” which has been ratified by Nigeria.
We salute the efforts of the NLC National Women Commission and the struggle towards enduring the most widespread violence of human rights against women and girls which occurs everywhere; at home, in schools, on the streets and at work, but often treated with impunity.
We therefore call on the Nigerian Government, employers and the trade unions to adopt strategies for the implementation of the ratified ILO Convention 190 for the realization and protection of women’s right, increased productivity and dignity at work.
I once more reiterate the call on government and all stake holders to adopt gender responsive approach to governance, service delivery, education, development and civic engagement aimed at addressing all forms of gender inequality towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
In the same vein, we advocate for the proper implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 which prohibits all forms of violence against persons in both private and public life, and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims as well as punishment for offenders.
Congratulations and kudos to all women on this very important and historic occasion of the commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day. Happy 2023 International Women’s Day specially to the working Women!!!
Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni
General Secretary