The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts and Workers’ Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) has called on women to rise up and challenge any form of discrimination against them.
The RATTAWU National President, Mr Kabir Tsanni, made the call at a one-day workshop organised by the union’s Women Committee to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day on Monday in Abuja.
The theme of the 2021 International Women’s Day is “Women in Leadership:, Achieving an Equal Future in COVID-19 World.”
Tsanni, represented by Mr Akpausoh Akpausoh, RATTAWU General-Secretary said the COVID-19 pandemic brought serious challenges to women’s employment and wage-earning potential in the country and the world at large.
“This year’s theme could not have been more apt. There is need for more inclusive leadership and representation.
“But RATTAWU will continue to canvass for and ensure job protection for its members, especially the women.
“The female workers, therefore, need to organise the merits of taking active part in labour unionism.
“The men, on the other hand, also need re-orientation to accept the fact that any real equality for women, even in unionism, can only be accomplished at their expense,” he said.
According to him, the International Women’s Day does not only seek to sensitise mankind on the wonderful role women have been playing in human existence so far.
He noted that the day also emphasised the need for more education across board to combat gender bias and discrimination.
He said that women had demonstrated full competence in all areas of human endeavor, be it in administration, sciences, arts, sports or academics.
Speaking, the Head of Department, Women and Youth, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs Rita Goyit, said that the theme was apt.
Goyit also said that there were a lot of gaps and challenges affecting the issue of gender equality in the system.
While speaking on the theme, Goyit called on the government and relevant agencies to ensure that women were represented in all COVID-19 planning, decision making and measures.
She also said that there was the need for the Federal Government to address all forms of violence and harassment in the world of work.
“That is why there is need for Nigeria to ratify the International Labour Organisation(ILO) Convention 190 (C190) to address all forms of Gender Based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) in the country,” she said.
She added that the GBVH could take multiple forms which included physical abuse, sexual harassment, bullying, economic and financial abuse among others.
“So, it is very important for the government to ratify the C190 to address the inequality in the work place,” Goyit said.
The RATTAWU Gender Desk Officer, Mrs Helen Essien, said that women had gone through a lot, especially during the COVID-19 period.
“Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, so many evil things took place, such as rape, harassment, abuse, among which made most women feel insecure in the society,” she said.
Essien said that as the world marked the International Women Day, it is important that women challenge every form of inequality, gender bias and gender based violence.
She urged every woman to speak up and refuse silence.