By Margaret Munsi
THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has pledged support to women from the Niger Delta region to seek and get justice over unfair treatments they have suffered and still suffer from their environment and society.
SERAP made the promise during an interactive session on “Strategic Litigation and Women’s Role in Advancing Social Justice in the Niger Delta” held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday.
The group’s promise followed feedbacks it received from the women drawn from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States, over the denial from participation in issues that affect their lives.
The participants stressed that women, especially widows, are the ones mostly suffering social injustices to weaken their relevance in the society.
According to them, “when you hear social justice in the Niger Delta, what comes to mind are corruption, health hazard, pollution, early menopause, partial blindness, cancer, land devastation climate change, food insecurity and many others.”
Following these concerns raised, Deputy Director, SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the appeal by the women for justice, would be addressed, stating that the group’s lawyers have taken note of the issues.
He said: “We are going to support them. Our lawyers are here and they are taking records of what they (participants) are saying. They are going to hear from us.”
Lead Research Consultant, Emilia Okon, in her report presentation on “Mobilising Natural Resource Communities to Use Strategic Litigation as a Tool for Social Justice”, noted ignorance as part of the challenges faced by Niger Delta women from getting social justice.
She said the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) is supposed to be used by the women to address their social injustices, adding that women at the rural communities should be more enlightened.
She emphasized that communities need legal literacy in local language through women-led and trusted platforms; combine legal aid and economic empowerment.
Speaking, Constance Meju, a veteran journalist and activist, called for intensive sensitization because women are suffering from what she described as “money, political and legal illiteracy” in the society.
According to her, without enlightenment, it would be difficult for the female folks’ voices to be heard.