ABSTRACT
The research work thereafter looks that the FIDA Edo state, a branch of FIDA Nigeria. FIDA Edo State has its office of operations is located at Sapele Road, Benin City. FIDA was inaugurated and established in Edo state in the year 1991 with Chief Mrs Iyom Anenih as the chairperson.³ Administratively, FIDA Edo state is ran under the hierarchical structure of Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Public Relations Officer, Assistant Public Relations Officer, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Assistant Financial Secretary and Welfare Secretary. At its inauguration,the chairperson of FIDA Edo state was Chief Mrs Iyom Anenih, with Justice E. Ikponmwonba as secretary.⁴ Currently, FIDA Edo state is headed by Violet Oghogho as the Chairperson, Stella Isibhakhomen Agoha as the Vice Chairperson, Florence Abhilimen as the Secretary, Florence Okundaye as the Assistant Secretary,Faith Ifeoma Chime as the Treasurer, Rosemary Ejodamen as the Financial Secretary, 57 Rita Iziegbe Okunbo as the Welfare Secretary and Esuakpor Praise Oghenetega as Public Relations Officer.⁵ Their goal was to advocate for the rights of women and children in Edo State and address issues of gender inequality and discrimination. Over the years, FIDA Edo State has grown and continued to make a positive impact in the community. In aligning itself with the general mission and objectives of FIDA, FIDA Edo state is saddled with the duty of promote, protect and preserve the rights, interests and well-being of women and children through the use of legal framework in Edo state.³ The research projec then focused on the duties and activities of FIDA Edo State in a systematic yearly order looking at the organization activities within the state from 1991 till date. The organization has been involved in and continues to involve itself for the purpose of promoting, protecting and ensuring women's rights within the states, while fighting for justice for those who have been sexually or physically abused or have been victims of other forms of gender based violence. FIDA Edo state also periodically, visits prisons in a bid to offer pro bono services to unjustly imprisoned victims, dealing with minor cases and unproved cases usually women related and juvenile cases. Is such humanitarian move, the official of FIDA looks into the files of cases yet to be resolved or of which the victim(s) has had no lawyer or the means by which to get one. FIDA Edo state helps this persons get their case looked into through the legal framework. Aside making use of their legal 58 framework, FIDA Edo state also provide financial aids to these victims. This plays out in two ways. It is noted that most women or juveniles in prison are serving jail terms which was can be dismissed by the cash equivalent. FIDA Edo state also move around sensitizing villages and communities on the danger of female circumcision, noting the health repercussions of such act. They also sensitize villages and communities on domestic violence, given trainings on forms of gender base violence and the need for victims to speak up and seek help. FIDA works with other organizations to provide other than legal aid, medical, psychological and mental help needed be given to assaulted victims and victims of domestic/gender based violence.⁷ The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria in general is keen on advancing the role of women in politics. This is a vision that has also been both by its chapters including FIDA Edo state. FIDA Edo State has played a significant role in encouraging and empowering women to participate in politics in the state through advocacy campaigns and awareness programs to educate women about their rights and the importance of participation in politics. By raising awareness about the benefits of women's involvement in politics, FIDA has encouraged more women to take an interest in political leadership. FIDA Edo State has organized capacity-building workshops, trainings, and mentorship programs to equip women with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage in political 59 activities.⁸ The organization provides more than enough support for women venturing into politics with a vision towards equality in the sector. Finally, the research project looks at FIDA Edo state in the promotion of women's rights and equality within the state and also in collaboration with the state government and other non profit organizations. The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Edo State Branch has kicked against gender-based violence (GBV), as statistics from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) showed that of its 1,059 cases in court, 205 pertained to GBV cases with 4-10 of such cases originating from Police case files.⁹ Efforts are made towards ending Gender Based Violence within the state through a gender management system to be put in place; Liaising with the legislature to enact laws passed; empowerment of women in all the Ministries, Department, and Agencies (MDA’s); Getting Judges to buy into the FIDA campaigns and endorse such; Development on the education curriculum to focus on raised lapses to effect corrections. FIDA is poised to change the narrative in incidents of GBV through reliance on the VAPP Law as domesticated in Edo State.¹⁰ FIDA Edo state is also focused on ending Female Circumcision and Gender Mutilation, and protection against harmful traditional practices to women within the state. On October 26, 1999, the Female Circumcision and Genital Mutilation (Prohibition) Law was passed, making it an offence to “circumcise or mutilate the genital organ of any female” irrespective of whether 60 consent has been obtained. In November 2001, another bill was passed banning harmful traditional practices.¹¹ They have partnered with other women groups including the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA).¹² With funding provided by CEDPA under the Engendering Legislative Issues (ELI) Project in 1999/ 2000, FIDA Edo state designed program activities to increase women’s awareness of their maintenance rights, with a focus on widows, and mobilized them to fight against the practice of female genital cutting (FGC). The project was implemented in three of the 18 LGAs of Edo State -- Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba Okha.¹³ The organization has instituted several strategies which has been successful in combating Female Circumcision and Genital Mutilation and also harmful traditional practices in the State. The organization also partners with the Vivian Ogu Center, which shares the same vision as FIDA. The center not only provides services and support to survivors of sexual assault within the state, but also seeks to protect the rights of young girls and women within the state from sexual abuse and other forms of gender based violence especially those pertaining to sexual harassment. The Sexual Assault Referral Center is in the same vien established to serve as a one stop shop for survivors of Gender Based Violence in Edo State and also to provide them with all the necessary services required such as medical, legal, psycho - social, investigative service and any other care required at no cost to the survivors.¹⁴ 61 The organization was also part of the Gender Policy Initiative instituted by the state government. The Gender Policy Initiative was established Edo State government promoted by the first lady of the state, Mrs Betsy Obaseki. It is an initiative aimed at promoting gender equality and addressing gender-based violence. The work ends with a look at the various ways the Edo state government itself has played it's role in promoting women's rights and equality within the state.
