President Muhammadu Buhari in his address to the UN General Assembly stated that “Nigeria acknowledges the importance of gender equality and recognizes the critical role that women play in development”. @MBuhari @EVA_Nigeria #UNGA #UNGA75Youth

He also acknowledged that the achievement of the SDGs and other international agreed development agenda depends largely on the empowerment of women. @EVA_Nigeria  #UNGA #UNGA75Youth

Despite these commitments, National Statistics on Women and Men in Nigeria (2018) shows that “women’s participation in decision-making at the national & local levels is low. Nigeria 2020 VNR report shows that the proportion of seats held by... @MBuhari @ProfOsinbajo #UNGA75Youth

...women in national parliaments & local governments decreased in the last electoral cycle, from 6.9% in 2015 to 4.4% in 2019, placing Nigeria towards the very bottom of the world’s ranking in this regard (185th out of 190 countries with available data).” @Ossap_sdgs #UNGA75Youth

In line with various international commitments, as far back as 2006 the government had developed a National Gender Policy that focuses on gender mainstreaming, women empowerment and eliminating discriminatory practices that are harmful to women. #UNGA75Youth

Under the policy, the Federal Government is committed to building a nation devoid of gender discrimination, guaranteeing equal access to political, social and economic wealth creation opportunities for women and men; @naptipnigeria @EVA_Nigeria #UNGA75Youth

... and developing a culture that places a premium on the protection of all, including children. Despite this policy and existing laws to address violence and abuses, Nigeria hasn’t gained any significant strides in achieving gender equality. @naptipnigeria #UNGA75Youth

Domestic violence against women and girls remains high with the percentage of adolescent girls subjected to violence by an intimate partner, current or former, in the previous year stood at 23.40% adolescents aged 15 - 19 years @naptipnigeria #UNGA75Youth

... and 37.20% for young women aged 20 - 24 years. An estimated 3 million people require GBV protection and response. The 2020 VNR estimates that An estimated 3 million people require GBV protection and response. (NDHS 2018) @naptipnigeria @kfayemi @MBuhari #UNGA75Youth

The proportion of women under 15 who are married or in a union decreased slightly at 15.7% in 2018 compared to 17.3% five years before (NDHS). However, this reduction has been met with a slight increase in... @naptipnigeria @EVA_Nigeria #UNGA #UNGA75Youth

... the proportion of women who got married before age 18 (from 42.8% to 43.4%), leading to the conclusion that a high proportion of girls are still subject to CEFM, but at a slightly older age. @MBuhari @naptipnigeria #UNGA #UNGA75Youth

In Nigeria, the statutory age of consent to access healthcare services is 18 years.  This means that adolescents under the age of 18 are denied sexual and reproductive healthcare services, information and education without the consent of a guardian. #UNGA75Youth

There is need for the reduction of a reduction in the age of consent to access to enable adolescents and young people have unrestricted access to comprehensive healthcare and information especially sexual and reproductive health & rights. @NGRSenate #UNGA75Youth

The VAPP Act and the Child Rights Act should be domesticated in all states of the federation. Also, states that domesticated the Acts but reduced the sentences should review the laws to be in tangent with the federal law. @kfayemi @NGRSenate #UNGA75Youth

Law that makes it compulsory for women to be 18 years and above before they can get married must be enacted in the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).  @MBuhari @kfayemi @NGRSenate @EVA_Nigeria #UNGA #UNGA75Youth

Grey areas in the constitution that are silent on legal age for marriage should be addressed and clearly spelled out to reduce the percentage of early and child marriages. @MBuhari @kfayemi @NGRSenate @EVA_Nigeria #UNGA #UNGA75Youth