By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
As the world commemorates International Women’s Day, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria has called on governments at all levels to impact in the lives of women.
Speaking at the event yesterday, SCI Country Director, Mercy Gichuhi,
called on the national, state and local governments to empower tomorrow’s women by promoting and protecting their rights to quality education, healthy start in life and end all forms of gender-based violence against girls and women in a bid to #BreakTheBias.
Represented by Amanuel Mamo, Director of Advocacy and Campaigns, Save the Children International, Nigeria, the SCI boss welcomed the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” as a matter of its critical relevance in recognizing the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are exerting exemplary effort in response to climate change, building resilient communities and a more sustainable future for all children, girls, men and women.
“One of the huge threats to “sustainable tomorrow” is climate change. Climate change is a threat to the rights of children, girls, women and particularly those living with disabilities. They are the first and worst affected by the impact of climate change whether by climate-related natural disasters or the impact of climate change on food production, access to water, livelihoods and basic social services.
“Protecting the environment is about preserving the planet earth for children, girls and women, to have a livable environment, “sustainable tomorrow” and a brighter future. It is about peace, survival, social and economic justice and sustainable development.
“I would like to urge all responsible actors, including the government, private sectors, CSOs, FBOs, CBOs and communities to double and intensify efforts to achieving the global targets of strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters; integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning; and improving education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning systems, which can save the lives of many children, girls and women who are the most affected by the climate crisis”.