Wednesday, March 16, 2016
A bill seeking to guarantee women equal rights with their male counterparts was, yesterday, thrown out by the Senate when it was presented for consideration during plenary.
The bill, which was presented for consideration by Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), incurred the wrath of senators, mainly from the Northern part of the country, who did not only slam those behind it but also described it as anti-Islam.
However, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Olujimi in her lead debate, explained that its purpose was to permit women to have equal rights with men in marriages, education and employment.
She said this had become compelling in view of increasing discrimination against women in education and employment. The bill also sought to eliminate discrimination against any person, irrespective of his gender, on any ground, including sexual violence against women.
According to Olujimi, gender discrimination often makes women insecure, denies them meaningful employment and exposes them to discrimination and exploitation.
