WorldStage Newsonline– The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Lagos state branch, on Wednesday urged Lagos State Government to create a deliberate budget to address needs on sex, age, race, ethnicity, experience and location of residents.
The Federation made the demand in a two-day workshop organised for lawmakers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Human Rights groups, government officials and lawyers in Lagos .
The theme of the workshop slated for Aug. 12, to Aug. 14, is Gender Responsive Budgeting.
The chairperson of Lagos State branch of FIDA, Mrs Philomena Nneji, addressing the participants, said responsive budgeting would help develop and analyse budget that would bridge the funding gaps of the groups.
She said that the need for government to create budget for the groups was to ensure equity.
“For example there is no specific budget for children of sexual abuse or gender violence.
“Responsive budget would ensure that the needs and interests of individuals of different social groups based on sex, age, race, ethnicity, experience and location are addressed in expenditure and revenue policies,” she said.
She posited that domestic violence, abuse of women and girl-child, had continued to be widespread and underreported because there was no specific budget allocated to address the issues.
“Wounds from such violence without help in trauma, as refuges, or shelter loss can be life threatening,” she said.
Nneji further said that the federation would ensure effective use of the budgets if considered.
Mr Victor Akande, the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petition of the Lagos State House of Assembly, commended FIDA for tackling the specific issues bedeviling humanity.
He stressed that the Lagos State government had established the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), among others, to tackle some specific issues.
“WAPA is charged with the responsibility to plan, devise and implement the state policies on Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,” he said.
However, Akande reiterated that the state government was ready to do more.
Akande further said there was the need to jettison the wrong traditions and cultures carved into humanity as part of efforts to address such problems.
Mrs Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, member representing Amuwo Odofin 1, in the Assembly commended the federation on its drives and efforts to address the ills in the society.
Speaking on Gender Based Violence (GBD), Alli- Macaulay pleaded with women experiencing abuse to lodge formal reports to appropriate authorities.
“Don’t ever remain in a frightful marriage until death comes knocking, report to NGOs,” the lawmaker said.
Mrs Adebiyi Bukola, a participant and founder of JAKIN, an NGO, urged the state government to support the appeal of FIDA.
“If huge sums could be budgeted for sports, among others, I don’t think budgeting to save humanity is extreme,” she added.
