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STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN KADUNA STATE END OF PROJECT REPORT.

SUPPORTED BY

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE

SUBMITTED BY

LEGAL AWARENESS FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN

Leadsnigeria.kd@gmail.com

MARCH 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACROYNMS………………………………………………………………………………………..3

1.0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………..4

2.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY……………………………..5

3.0. ACHIEVEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………………7

3.1. Kaduna State VE & stop VAWIP GOTV campaign Training for mobilizing women Voters participation in the 2019 General election………………………..7

3.2. Technical Working session with key stakeholders in Kaduna state on the Stop violence Against women (VAWIP) campaign……………………………………..7

3.3. Training of 69 LGA Stop VAWIP Coordinators…………………………………………………8. 3.4. Stop VAWIP Media Roundtable………………………………………………………………..…9 3.5. Advocacy to Key Electoral Stakeholders in Kaduna State……………………………………...10 3.6. Consultative Meeting with Relevant Stakeholders in Kaduna State………………………… ….11 . 3.7. Dialogue with Security Agencies and Political Parties on Response to VAWIP…………….…11 3.8. Media Sensitization/Continuous voters’ education………………………………………………..13 3.9. GOTV/Stop VAWIP Town Hall Meetings in the 3 Senatorial Districts…………………………14 3.10. Community based Voter Education/Stop VAWIP sensitization for

women groups……………………………………………………………………………………..16 3.11. Peace Rally………………………………………………………………………………...................17 3.12. STOP VAWIP Review meeting …………………………………………………………………..18 3. 13. SVAWIP Survival Service Centre……………………………………………………………………20 3.14: Press Briefing …………………………………………………………………………………………21

4. 0. LESSONS & CHALLENGES -------------------------------------------------- 23

5.0. TESTIMONIALS ………………………………………………………………………… 24

6.0. RECOMMENDATION………………………………..…………………………………. 26

7.0. CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………………………………27

8.0. APPENDICES ……………………….……………………………………………………. ….27

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ACRONYMS MEANING

CSO…………………………………………………..Civil Society Organisations

EVM …………………………………………Electronic Voting Machine

FIDA………………………………………………….International Federation of Female Lawyers

GBV………………………………………………….Gender Based Violence

GOTV……………………………………………….Get Out The Votes

JONAPD……………………………………………Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities

INEC…………………………………………………Independent National Electoral Commission

LAWN………………………………………………Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women

LGA………………………………………………….Local Government Area

MWA&SD ………………………….Ministry Of Women Affairs & Social Development NSCDC……………………………...National Security and Civil Defense Corps NCWS………………………….........National Council for Women Societies

NDI…………………………………..................National Democratic Institute

NOA………………………………………………..National Orientation Agency

PU…………………………………………………..Polling Unit

PVC…………………………………………………Permanent Voters Card

SVAC………………………………………………Stop VAWIP Committee.

SVAWIP…………………………………………..Stop Violence Against Women in Politics

Stop-VAWIP…………………………………….Stop Violence Against Women In Politics

SVAWIPN………………………………………..Stop Violence Against Women in Politics Network

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1.0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Get Out the Votes (GOTV) and Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (SVAWIP) campaign seeks to enlighten and mobilize women participation in the electoral process ahead of the 2019 elections, increase understanding of the dynamics of violence against women in elections in Kaduna state as a vehicle to creating awareness on VAWIP so as to combat the menace and create opportunities for women to participate in the electoral process without fear of violence thus increasing the participation of vulnerable groups in the electoral process. The project also sought to document and report VAWIP incidences with a view to providing responses to survivors during the 2019 general elections.

The GOTV/SVAWIP campaign adopted a multi- pronged approach of working in collaboration with other local organizations and agencies to raise public awareness on the need for women’s participation in the electoral process, behavioral change advocacy, deployment of psychosocial and legal support services for VAWIP survivors and the collection and analysis of VAWIP data through telephone hotlines.

Through the public awareness exercises across the State, over Twelve thousand six hundred and seventy four (12,674) persons were reached while over Three million (3,000,000) were reached on Radio through the live phone in discussion programmes and jingles. Over fifty personalities signed onto the SVAWIP commitment forms. It is therefore not surprising that massive turn out of women were recorded during the Presidential /National Assembly elections. Only 7 VAWIP cases were reported in the period and just one additional case in March 2019. The SVAWIP campaign took advantage of different for a to pass on its message contributing to its success.

To show more seriousness towards getting more women actively participating in politics and governance, Political parties should formulate policies to fully integrate women into party structures, encourage them to contest positions and check violence against women within their parties. Security agents to put all measures in place for the protection of the electorate especially women and ensure that all perpetrators of violence are apprehended and duly prosecuted in order to deter further occurrence. The SVAWIPN is poised to continue sustaining the campaign throughout the electoral cycle.

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2.0. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY

Taking into consideration the importance of elections to the democratic process, it is essential that the electorates are well informed, aware and actively participate in the electoral cycle devoid of barriers. It is in recognition of barriers women face in actively participating in the electoral process that NDI supported the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) and Stop Violence AGAINST Women in Politics campaign. The objectives of the GOTV, Voter Education and Voter Information campaign are to:

Inform and educate women in Kaduna state on all electoral requirements to make sure that they are not excluded from the electoral process.

Encourage every eligible female voter in Kaduna to vote in the forthcoming general elections.

Increase the turnout of female voters during the forthcoming elections. To address the growing concern on the effect of gender based violence on women’s participation in Politics and governance, NDI piloted the Stop Violence Against Women in Elections projects in Bayelsa and Kogi in 2015, Ondo and Edo in 2016, Osun 2019 which were adjudged successful as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) noted that the November 26, 2016 election in Ondo recorded the highest number of women voters recorded in the history of the state and the Edo election recorded a near 100% violence against women free election. It is against this backdrop that NDI scaled up the campaign to Kaduna State to encourage women in the State to come out en-masse to vote during the election. The objectives of the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics campaign are to:

To create awareness about violence against women in politics and facilitate the process of challenging set attitudes and beliefs around it;

To advocate to relevant stakeholders on addressing issues of violence against women in politics;

To track and respond to VAWIP incidents during the election with the use of on the ground observation and citizens report through a hotline.

The GOTV and SVAWIP campaign adopted a multi- stakeholder and pronged approach which involves collaborate and partnership with CSOs, Female Politicians, Media, Government, traditional, religious institutions, INEC, Security Agencies and Political Parties to have a

To have a shared understanding of the issue

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Work together in the sensitization, conscientization and mobilization of women and the public to encourage women’s participation in the electoral process on a sustainable basis;

cultivating a culture of zero tolerance to VAWIP Report incidence of VAWIP; and Track and provide support to victims of VAWIP.

The voter education and STOP VAWIP sensitisation and mobilisation activities by LANW, SVAWIP Network partners and SVAWIP LGA coordinators sought to raise Public awareness and influence behavioral change advocacy led by the SVAWIPN. Other sensitization activities lined up include media sensitization and a peace rally. The SVAWIP campaign is designed to provide support services for VAWIP survivors (legal, psychological, medical, emergency shelter, dispute resolution, etc. Consequently, the campaign built in the collection, collation and analysis of VAWIP data gotten through telephone hotlines 0802200000 and 080022000000.

Dialogues/Consultative

meetings

TOT of LGA Coordinators

Voter Education/Stop VAWIP sensitization

Peace walkMedia Sensitization

Survival Service Centre

and Hub

Advocacy

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3.0. ACHIEVEMENTS 3.1. Kaduna State VE & stop VAWIP GOTV campaign Training for mobilizing women Voters participation in the 2019 General election.

This training held at Hotel Seventeen Kaduna on 19th & 20th November 2018 drew thirty –two participants drawn from representatives CSOs, Women’s groups, Media, Government, INEC, political parties, Network of women politicians and Security agencies.

The meeting objectives were to enhance participant’s knowledge of GOTV and Stop VAWIP campaign towards facilitating a high turnout of women voters on election day, strengthen participants capacity to develop appropriate messages, advocacy strategies and tactics to employ in engaging with relevant stakeholders and to develop a work plan of activities for the implementation of the get out the vote campaign.

Participants identified three main issues identified to militate Women’s active participate in Kaduna State namely, Inadequate socio-economic empowerment, low interest of women in political party structure/governance and insecurity. Participants drew out messages for diverse categories of women and other advocacy key stakeholders. Participants were also able to outline issues that affect women generally, strategies for engagement, allies and targets. Participants agreed to the formation of a Stop Violence Against Women in Politics Network, each stakeholder stating the role they would be playing in the Network. Participants also agreed on an action plan for the Network and started a Whats App platform for information sharing and networking. Since the meeting many network members including Women’s Mentoring Forum (WAMFOI), Women Interfaith Center, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lere Women’s Development Association, Gender and Girl Child Concern, Ministry of Women Affairs, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) had kept faith participating in sensitization and advocacy initiatives of the SVAWIPN.

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Group Photo of participants at the Training for mobilizing women Voters for participation in the 2019 General election. 3.2. Technical Working session with Ministry of Women Affairs and Salama Sexual Assault and Referral Centre on the Stop Violence Against women (VAWIP) campaign; Case study and lessons from the 2018 Osun stop-VAWIP campaign The meeting enabled NDI, LANW, Salama Sexual Assault and Referral Centre to agree on areas of collaboration in the SVAWIP campaign. Areas agreed upon included on behalf of the MWASD included - the establishment of a hub/situation room in the Ministry’s facility, Leverage on Women’ Groups platforms established by the Ministry and sensitisation

campaigns. Collaborate with the Sexual Assault and Counselling Centre to refer victims of

VAWIP. The Director, Women Affairs was mandated to brief the Hon Commissioner MWASD on the agreed modalities.

MWASD will form part of the advocacy team to stakeholders; Collaborate with the Ministry of Information to use the state media to air VAWIP

campaigns and Collaborate with INEC to coordinate political party meetings. The meeting also brought out the Areas needing to be firmed up for the effective implementation of the SVAWIP like conclude on the response protocol, compile a Directory of stakeholders (security agencies, FIDA, LGA Heads of units & LGA Coordinators), develop messages for jingles, finalize the write-up for T-shirts, fact sheets, identify radio station (Karama) and provide contact details, as well as develop data of social services and clean up the stakeholders' asks.

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The Osun experience shared by a staff of Ministry of Women Affairs in Osun State demonstrated how the SVAWIP Project led to the establishment of a Gender and Stop VAWIP desk officer, influencing the State to begin implementing its gender policy signed since 2013 and more citizen haven been enlightened are reporting cases of VAWIP

Mrs Hannatu Ahuwan making presentation on the aims and objective of VAWIP during the technical Working session with key stakeholders in Kaduna state

The write up for T-Shirts, jingles, factsheets and respective Asks were accomplished within two weeks of the meeting. LANW working with one of the SVAWIPN members ensured that the jingles were produced ahead of the elections and aired on Karama Radio and Rock Side FM Kafanchan for audience in the Southern part of the State. While many stakeholders provided the details of officials for the directory of stakeholders, others like the Ministry of Women Affairs and Nigerian Police Force failed to submit theirs before the dates for elections. The Salama Sexual Assault and Referral Centre played a central role in sensitization and the operations of the VAWIP Service Center. 3.3. Training of 69 LGA Stop VAWIP Coordinators

The training objectives were to strengthen the capacity of LGA Stop VAWIP coordinators to be able to identify VAWIP, verify cases of violence and provide response. Three persons were chosen and trained per LGA to act as SVAWIP LGA coordinators. The Coordinators were drawn from NOA staff in the LGA and other locally based CSOs. The training held at Zonal level between 17th- 19th December 2018 in Kafanchan, Kaduna and Zaria respectively.

The training introduced participants to the GOTV/STOP VAWIP project, its methodology, outcomes, mobilization approaches and the election process. Participants were also taken

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through how to measure and identify VAWIP, how communicate STOP VAWIP messages, best practices for community mobilization and referral procedure for victims of violence. In all, sixty seven persons attended the training with only Birnin Gwari LGA failing to attend.

In the session dealing with the different types of VAWIP incidence, some participants in the southern senatorial zone admitted that the never knew that some of the examples highlighted were actually acts of violence, while others who admitted that they knew the acts constituted violence confessed they did not know how and where to report such incidences. Across the three zones, female politicians amongst the participants shared their experiences and urged participants to encourage women’s participation.

The training ended with participants in their LGA clusters agreeing on the allies, targets and methodology they will use in their sensitization. Some of the allies and targets across the three zones identified include traditional leaders, women groups, religious leaders, Market Women’s Associations, women fellowship groups’, wedding events marriages, one on one sensitization, youth groups women organization, okada riders, NURTW, tribal associations, PWD, skills acquisition centres, Islamiyah schools, etc. On the mode of sensitization, some suggested the use of community dialogue, theater for development, social gathering, market place forums, road walk, women groups and traditional leaders. Participants committed to the campaign and sign onto the LGA STOP VAWIP Coordinators Whats App platform from which they had been sharing their sensitization activities.

By the last week of February 2019, posts by LGA coordinators and SVAWIPN members indicated that over 12,000 persons were reached in the respective sensitization activities across the LGAs. LGA coordinators equally disseminated the two hotlines of the SVAWIP campaign to which over 300 calls were received in the pre- election period and 100 on Presidential / National Assembly elections. LGA coordinators from Giwa and Lere LGAs also reported SVAWIP cases which the SVAWIP Survivor Center treated.

3.4. Stop VAWIP Media Roundtable

The expected outcome for the Roundtable was to secure the commitments of key media organizations in Kaduna State in promoting the GOTV/Stop VAWIP campaign considering the wide reach of different media outfits including bloggers. The media showed interest on the referral and messaging giving the socio Cultural inclination of the audience. At the end of the meeting, Media practitioners committed to use their existing programmes to promote and sustain the Stop VAWIP campaign especially those that bring both traditional and religious leaders to give that correct interpretation of religious instructions or speak against negative norms against women participation in politics.

Media practitioners at the meeting had not only featured the GOTV/SVAWIP campaigns but continually

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3.5. Advocacy to Key Electoral Stakeholders in Kaduna State Several advocacy visits were carried by the SVAWIPN network to diverse electoral stakeholders ranging from the NPF, NOA, traditional and religious leaders to political parties and candidates. The aim of the meetings was to obtain their buy in towards supporting changes in norms and behaviour that constitute violence against women in Elections. The meetings also provided an opportunity at forming collaboration and synergy in mobilizing women and other marginalised group’s participation in the election & their commitments to protect women before, during and after the elections. Amongst the personalities visited who signed the SVAWIP commitment forms were Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; Rabi Tukur representing the INEC Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Arch Bishop Mathew Nda Goso, Catholic Bishop of Kaduna Arch Diocese, Maureen Y. Lekwot, APC candidate for Zangon Kataf Constituency in the House Of Assembly, Dr. Polycarp Gankon, APGA Kaduna State Gubernatorial Candidate, Esther Abba representing PDP Kaduna State chairman and the NOA State Director to mention a few. 3.6. Consultative Meeting with Relevant Stakeholders in Kaduna State The Consultative brought together 69 persons (57 female & 12 male) drawn from women leaders, media, community influencers, electoral stakeholders including Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), NOA, security agencies, staff of SALAMA Sexual Assault and Referral Center. Min of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPD) , State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) , traditional rulers, women groups, local government authorities, religious leaders and representatives of political parties. The Deputy Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly Hon. Nuhu Goro Shadalafiya who sponsored the Violence against Persons Prohibition bill delivered a key note address in which he appreciated NDI and LAWN for the timely initiative to encourage more women turnout in the upcoming election as female voters and politicians experience increased harassment, violence and psychological abuses in elections around the world. He called for massive mobilisation for the few female candidates that emerged adding that he is devoting his time for a lady in his own party to see how she can succeed. He also urged on the need to persuade both male and females to change their attitude toward women in politics. He concluded by identifying himself with the GOTV/SVAWIP course and commit to support such moves by NDI/LANW before and after the elections. . INEC, Security agencies, faith based and community leaders made commitments to carrying don the message to their constituents.

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Religious, traditional leaders, INEC and CSOs speaking on their roles in mitigating VAWIP Amongst the observations and resolutions from the discussions and opinions during the

meeting were:

1. INEC, NOA, other organizations and Individuals are not doing enough to educate citizens on the electoral process. They should not wait until the electioneering period to enlighten citizens.

2. Traditional leaders will carry out extensive sensitization employing different strategies to ensure that citizens do not deviate from the laws governing elections.

3. Religious Institutions have set some mechanisms in place and are enlightening citizens on their Civic duties especially on going out to vote on Election Day without creating mayhem.

4. The perceptions of some Islamic Scholars that a woman cannot be a Political leader are the reason why society frowns at women’s participation in Politics. In this light, Intensive and continuous sensitization should be carried out especially in the rural communities to change such perception.

5. The misconception of “Politics is a dirty game” informs why some men disallow their wives or female relatives in participating in politics. Therefore, increased campaigns should be done to disabuse such people of these stereotypes and encourage women to participate in politics to improve the number of women in politics.

6. Since it is from the party level that women can be groomed to be leaders, political Parties should create enabling environment for men and women to acquire political positions.

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7. FIDA will collaborate with LANW to prosecute any perpetrator of Violence against Women in Politics.

Hon Nuhu Goro Shadalafiyya, deputy Speaker, State House of Assembly delivery a key note address

3.7. Dialogue with Security Agencies and Political Parties on Response to VAWIP The dialogue was used to pull together political party executives, security agencies, INEC, media, and members of the Stop VAWIP Network to discuss security of women in the elections and secure commitments of the stakeholders to addressing incidence of VAW in the elections. The dialogue held on 14th December in Kaduna with 38 participants. Barrister Gloria Tum, Principal legal officer in INEC and Hajia Rabi Tukur, head of Gender unit outlined the strategies that could be used to mitigate VAWIP, education, sensitization and awareness on VAWIP, assess gaps & identify needs to prevent & mitigate VAWIP. They suggested training of women on communication techniques to be able to respond to violence against them and lastly mobilize public opinion against this phenomenon to promote a zero tolerance towards violence and their mindset. Haj Rabi also informed that INEC has made the polling units friendly to women, nursing mothers, PWDs, albinos and pregnant women who would be given priority.

AC Zakka Shekari, Assistant Commandant, Nigeria Security Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) informed that the NSCDC intend to deploy at least one officer to every Polling unit to protect women and has created a peace & Conflict prevention unit, women and child protection unit which is planning an incidence room to be located in Kakuri and would publicize its hotline for the public to report any untoward activities. AC. Shekari informed the meeting that the dialogue has made them to rethink and would refocus on their strategies to look at the issues of Women and VAWIP.

The NPF, represented by ASP Mariam Zakari revealed that they have already drawn out a road map to collaborate with LANW on the SVAWIP campaign and intends to mobilise all the female police women to cover as many polling units as possible in addition to surveillance and response to any incidence of VAWIP that would be received.

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The Political Parties present, All Progressive Grand Alliance, Peoples Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party all committed support for women’s participation in politics and the electoral process and to raise awareness on VAWIP while pointing out the challenges women were facing in registration and obtaining PVCs. INEC as much as possible responded to these queries and many other concerns of the parties. Seeing that the political parties and INEC did not to be meeting to resolve unanswered questions, LANW requested the two stakeholders to cultivate a culture of meeting to trash out any challenges. The Security agencies and INEC re stated their commitment to respond to calls and enquiries while representatives of the political parties signed commitment forms as demonstration of their buy- in. Lastly representative of each political party on behalf of their party committed to support the campaign and the signed the commitment forms.

In keeping to these commitments, INEC, NSCDC and the NPF shared their hotlines which were referred to by the SVAWIP Service Centre members in response to issues and calls that came before, during and after the elections. 3.8. Media Sensitization/Continuous voters’ education In addition to the public sensitization campaigns at different fora and using existing platforms, the electronic media featured prominently in projecting the GOTV and SVAWIP messages. LANW used Jingles, radio phone in discussion programs and social media interactions in this regard targeting not just women or women’s groups, first time voters, but hard to reach communities, deprived communities, young persons, PWDs and the general public. Thirteen (13) sixty-minute slots of the radio discussion show were aired on Karama FM in Kaduna covering topics such as GOTV and STOP VAWIP Campaign in Kaduna State, the importance of Women’s Participation in politics and the electoral process, addressing Barriers to women’s participation in the electoral processes, the different dimensions of VAWIP, electoral offences, and the electoral process amongst others. Similar topics were discussed on Rock Side FM Stereo in Kafanchan for the Southern audience since the network coverage in the central was limited. 100 slots of the sixty seconds jingle were aired at least twice daily for six weeks to the elections on both radio stations.

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Mr Dababa of INEC and Amina Augie of FIDA at Karama Radio discussion programme A total of Twenty – two (22) episodes were aired while Ninety Two (92) persons called during the radio programs. It was observed on days the radio programs were aired; over thirty (30) calls were received on the each of the hotlines from audience who listened to the programs.

Use of Social Media:

LANW engaged in a social media campaign using Facebook, Twitter #notthecost #Stopvawie and WhatsApp to popularize the campaign and reached a wider audience. In addition, a WhatsApp group formed was a channel of communication where the Stop VAWIP coordinators can easily report and verify incidents of violence to the Stop VAWIP hub during electioneering period. In addition, 325 branded T- shirts, 1000 stickers, and 3000 factsheets were disseminated while three bill boards in English and Hausa with voter education and Stop VAWIP messages were erected in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan. The stickers and fact sheets were translated into Hausa language to capture the large Hausa population. The T-shirts was worn at public events and by VAWIP Coordinators.

LANW received not less than six calls from persons who saw the billboards and made enquiries on the campaign. Two calls, one from Kaduna and another from Kafanchan were from persons who indicated interest in joining the SVAWIPN network.

LANW used Twitter to promote the campaign. In December there were 8292 impressions, 464 engagements, 91 retweets which increased to 47919 impressions, 1690 engagements and 466 retweets. In February, LANW recorded 89,383 tweet impressions from 2635 engagements, 589 retweets, 1059 media views and 914 media engagements. 3.9. GOTV/Stop VAWIP Town Hall Meetings in the 3 Senatorial Districts

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Zonal Town hall meetings were held in Kafanchan, Zaria and Barnawa to sensitize community influencers, gate keepers and religious leaders to secure their buy-in and support in promoting the GOTV and STOP VAWIP campaign.

Participants at Kafanchan Town hall meeting These people were specifically targeted because of the high regard people had of them and their ability to influence behaviour and practices. The targets also had the capacity to educate women on the voting process and publicize the security/safety measures during elections. Security agencies, NOA and women leaders participated in these zonal meetings from the 23 LGAs. INEC and Security agents spoke on the state of readiness for the elections and took questions from the audience.

Participants showing their solidarity with the VAWIP Campaign at the Kaduna Town hall meeting 3.10. Community based Voter Education/Stop VAWIP sensitization for women groups

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As earlier mentioned, SVAWIPN members and LGA Coordinators were saddled with the responsibility of conducting voter education/Stop VAWIP sensitization activities to women, women’ groups to mobilize different categories of women to participate in the 2019 general elections. Consequently, series of sensitization engagements were held at different levels involving diverse women groups such as market women, women in academia, female politicians, faith-based groups, women in purdah and young girls, men, religious institutions and schools.

Sensitisation to teachers of Junior Secondary School Barnawa LGA coordinators used existing platforms like town union meetings, religious events and other opportunities in reaching out to targets broadening women’s perspectives on the electoral and voting process, how to deal with any challenge they may face in exercising their right to vote as well as referrals to a hotline set up under the campaign to receive complaints or reports of incidents of VAWIP. These sensitization activities were documented and sent via Whats app with pictures, description of audience and numbers reached to LANW for collation. From the reports filed, 12,674 persons were reached across the State.

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3.11. One day Peace Rally on VAWIP and GOTV campaign in Kaduna State

Two different peace walks were originally planned to hold along major streets in Kaduna Metropolis to sensitize more women on peace messaging, mobilize them to come out to cast their votes on election days and to use the hotline to encourage reporting of cases of violence in the electoral process. However the peace walk had to be converted into a peace rally on 13th February 2019 following the denial of permission by the NPF for a public walk on grounds of potential break down of law and order it being close to the date of the elections.

Nevertheless LANW, SVAWIPN in collaboration with women groups, security, media and over 20 other CSOs in Kaduna state held a rally which at the open grounds of the Catholic Media Service Center creating awareness on the need for peaceful election and what constitutes VAWIP in Kaduna state. The rally had 347 persons in attendance comprising 278 females and 69 males.

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The rally served to sensitize attendees to further sensitize the public on peace messaging and to encourage more women to go out and vote. The SVAWIP hotline was also released to encourage reportage of VAWIP cases, before, during and after the elections. Several IEC materials were shared by SVAWIP Network and participating CSOs while messages were received from LAWN, SVAWIP Network, traditional, religious leaders, Ministry of Women Affairs and select CSOs. Mr. Danjuma Makama from the National Orientation Agency Kajuru demonstrated the proper voting process using a specimen of the ballot paper. Copies of the SVAWIP speech were shared to media. Posters and fact sheets distributed were further distributed to the public while the media reported the rally in print and electronic media.

Taking a walk during the rally.

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Representatives of Groups chanting Stop Violence Against Women in politics

3.12. REVIEW MEETING WITH LG STOP VAWIP COORDINATORS

The objective of the review meeting held on 25th February was to share experience /lessons with some of the LG coordinators and the findings from the sensitizations, proffer solution to challenges and suggestions for sustaining the network. 6 participants from 6 LGAs, Soba, Giwa, Kajuru, K/North, K/South and Sabon Gari LGA joined ten others from the SVAWIP Network members at the meeting

Reports by Binta Abdullahi from Soba LG, Danjuma Makama(Kajuru),Victoria Bako (Kaduna South), Shade Machido (Sabon Gari), Rekia Usman(Kaduna North) and Zainab Sani (Giwa) highlighted the different strategies used in reaching out to targets for instance house to house sensitization, targeting all Islamic /Quranic school, religious meetings, traditional leaders, school teachers, leveraging on existing platforms or meetings as in the case of NOA, Salama Centre, naming ceremonies, weddings and meeting different women groups which paved way for large turnout of women, minimal VAWIP and peaceful election.

The major challenge the coordinators identified was financial constraints which prevented them from reaching out to more areas. Other smaller challenges were financial requests from some people under the erroneous impression the Coordinators belonged to political parties and insufficient IEC materials especially the fact sheets and T Shirts. Rekia Usman from Kaduna North reported of a community where the men refused their wives from coming out to be sensitized and did not give reasons why. From the experiences they shared the election was peaceful, but they also raised concerns on some polling unit that had few challenges due to lack of security personals.

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As testimonials to how GOTV and SVAWIP campaigns have increased their capacities and voter turnout, Shade Machido confessed that she was a shy person but the campaign made her to build confidence in facing large crowds and made her more assertive. Zainab Sani who represented Giwa LG coordinators sensitized UNICEF VCM mobilizers who stepped down the sensitization during immunization rounds. She also shared her experience on violence meted out on female members of her household during the election by security agents and APC party members searching for her brother alleged to have picked INEC ink.

3. 13. SVAWIP Survival Service Centre. The Stop VAWIP Survivor Service Centre comprised of project team personnel, data clerks, media traditional and religious leaders, CSOs or groups such as FIDA, National Council of Women Societies, etc as well as personnel from Ministry of Women Affairs, Security agencies, Salama Sexual Assault and Referral Centre, NOA and other relevant stakeholders. Each stakeholder provided advice specific to their calling, tenet or law. In the period leading to the Presidential /National Assembly elections up to Monday 25th February, the Stop VAWIP Survivor Service Centre accepted, collated and analyzed over One hundred (100) reports from the two hotlines from which response was provided to both seven (7) VAWIP survivors and non VAWIP cases using the referral procedure developed by LANW and NDI after which the VAWIP cases were uploaded onto the Stop VAWIP google forms. The non VAWIP cases revolve around voter process, logistical and security challenges. The report of the findings from the Stop VAWIP hub was published via a press statement attended by a cross section of print, electronic and online media and disseminated widely for reforms in elections. The SVAWIP Service Center kept open throughout the gubernatorial elections. Thirty –seven calls were received on the hotlines although none of the calls related to VAWIP. Most of the calls were appeals for security cover and for INEC officials to come on time. Ten calls were received giving feedback that INEC officials arrived on time with complete voting materials and security cover unlike in the Presidential elections. 3.14. PRESS BRIEFING ON FINDINGS OF THE SURVIVOR SERVICE CENTRE

A press briefing on the findings of the SVAWIP Survivor Service Centre held on Monday 25th February to share findings from the Survivor Centre and recommendation to key stakeholders to mitigate violence against women in politics in following elections.

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LANW Executive Director addressing the press on the statement of findings to the Survivor Center

In attendance were representatives from the print, online and electronic media along with SVAWIP Network members was led by LANW executive director , Alhaji Bala Tijjani, District head of Doka, Bunnun Zazzau, Iman Musa Tanimu of Ungwan Rimi Mosque, NOA, Salama Sexual Assault Centre and some LGA coordinators. The press statement highlighted Eight SVAWIP cases the Survivor Service Centre treated. One of the female candidates, Zainab Saka Yusuf contesting for House of Representative under the flag of NRM was linked to the media to showcase her case wherein the APC candidate and his agents were threatening her for not signing false results.

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4.0. .LESSONS & CHALLENGES

Some of the lessons learnt that contributed to the success of the VAWIP campaign

Partnering with governmental agencies with similar mandates like NOA, Salama center to reach wider audience LGAs including Birnin Gwari LGA which did not have a single representation during the LGA coordinators training.

• Getting influencers, Political parties and security agencies to demonstrate support by signing commitment forms or posing with placards and posting these pictures on their social media handles.

• The door to door, peer to peer influencing and use of existing platforms made it cost effective and easy to reach out to the target at short intervals.

• The combination of actors in the service hub who gave immediate response to cases and followed up with the survivors gave the campaign an added advantage.

• The sensitization activities were done on the local languages and at platforms were the people meet. Diverse ways of impacting knowledge used included informal discussions, sharing voter information, lectures, radio discussion programmes with opportunity to comment and ask questions for clarifications and use of social media all worked to reach out to different types of targets. The hotline also provided a means for callers to clarify gray areas.

• Citizens’ willingness to engage in promoting Women’s participation in the electoral and governance process and community development culled from the fact that they understood the benefits and received the necessary knowledge and tools to work with

On the other hand . Running the campaign close to election was quite a challenge getting the required attention of electoral stakeholders especially the political party leadership, candidates, INEC and security agencies. Most of the advocacy visits were cancelled due to pressing assignments of these stakeholders.

The major challenge was the inability to meet the Governor or his deputy to introduce the campaign due to his busy electioneering period. The Hon Commissioner MWASD also travelled on political party related mission throughout the period under review. Efforts would be intensified to get Executive buy –in to the campaign and possible attendance to the roundtable discussions.

5.0. TESTIMONIALS

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A lot of testimonials were received on the Whats App platform from SVAWIPN members, VAWIP survivors and the LGA coordinators. Many testimonials attested to massive turnout of women in the elections, while others spoke on how the SVAWIP campaign had impacted on their lives. Some of the testimonials are reflected below.

In Giwa LGA, Zainab Sani, one of the LGA coordinators reported how female family members and children her household were psychologically traumatized following a raid by security personnel instigated by party agents allegedly in search of her brother, an opposition party loyalist. In the process, the security agents broke down doors, physically assaulted the family resulting in her grandmother and mother who are diabetic and hypertensive fainting leaving two live bullets in their wake. The SVAWIPN swung into action giving psyco social support to the family and featured the incidence during the press briefing. Zainab has reported that the family received five (5) calls from State House on behalf of the Governor apologizing appealing to the family. The family has taken the incidence and apology in their strides and came out to vote candidates of their choice in the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections. ----Zainab Sani, Giwa LGA.

Through various sensitizations, women were assured of safety during the polls thereby making a good number of them turn out to vote. Confidence of women was built in women as female candidates refused to give out her votes even when she was threatened. With the hotlines, women knew where to call to make their complaints on VAWIP incidents. With appeal from the campaign /network, nursing mothers and PWDs were allowed in separate lines in some PU. There’s hope that more women would actively participate in electoral processes in future. --- Affiong, PRO, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

The Women Mentoring Forum (WAMFOI), Women gained positively from VAWIP network, particularly our women candidates who had fears in their contest, the network increased their confidence in the elections especially State Assembly elections where we have 19 women in the contest. They also know about the hotlines they can use during elections. It had been worth it having the VAWIP network/platform. Well done Barr Rebecca Sako-John and team. Bravo – Hon Florence Aya, Chairperson WAMFOI.

Stop VAWIP has raised the bar of women in politics in Kaduna State. It has provided them a platform to air their views on political matters, re-strategize on other matters of interest and set agenda for electorate within and outside their reach. And above all, it has given them a sense of belonging and ownership – free access to both conventional and new media It was a good initiative…..Shola Ojo, Online Media, GOBROADSHEETS

Good success on women who had made up their minds not to come out to vote, when sensitized, they came out en masse to vote. The phone in program really helps voters during

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the election. Women vying for political posts were encouraged knowing that women will give massive support to them. Women became more aware of the activities of the Salama Sexual Assault and Referral Center in mitigating violence. Women’s position in the political scene has been broadened.—Salome Obiora – Lere Women Development Association

To say the fact, sensitization on GOTV/SVAWIP have great positive impact because many women have fully support the program which gave them courage and confidence to come out en mass and vote during the Presidential election, which we believe they will do same in the forth coming election. We all appreciate the efforts of LANW… Binta Abdullahi (Soba LGA)

For the Salama SARC it was an opportunity to enlighten people about the center. And also it was an avenue to enlighten women to participate in politics and also exercise their fundamental human rights by voting for their preferred candidates. It also gave us an insight that there is more sensitizations to be carried out so more people can be aware. In all, more women came out and the calls we received showed that we sensitized a lot of people. – Deborah Plagnam Salama Center.

In Kagarko LGA, VAWIP coordinators enlightened women up to an extent that the Kagarko Market Women Leader requested for voter education to the women so that their votes shall not be invalid as she realized that in the presidential election, many women may waste their votes due to lack of awareness. She appreciated the effort of SVAWIP and she said many women turned up during the last election. --- Abdul Tasiu, SVAWIP LGA Coordinator, Kagarko

On behalf of all the GOTV/SVAWIP Campaign team in Sabon Gar, our women are really enlightened which made many of them without PVC to get their PVC and see reason to vote for development and with time, more women in Sabon Gari will be contesting for political position with the awareness we gave them and so once again, we thank LANW for all the support --- Shade Machido, Sabon Gari SVAWIP Coordinator.

Zainab Saka Yusuf, NRM candidate for House of Representative expressed joy in being linked to the media to voice threats and injustice meted on her by the agents of the Ruling party who put pressure on her for over ten hours to give up her own votes to the APC candidate and to sign the cooked up results. In reporting this incidence of threats and coercion, Zainab expressed fear that the Ruling party was in the process of using security agents to force her to agree to the election results. In providing a response, the Survivor Centre suggested using the press to voice out her frustrations to which she expressed lack of funds to call a press briefing

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to which the Centre invited her to use the platform of the press briefing to speak on her ordeal which she did and received appropriate coverage. Ordinarily, this incident would have remained with the candidate but providing a platform for Zainab to voice her ordeal encouraged her and several other females not to give in to VAWIP or cut short their journey in participating in politics……. Zainab Saka Yusuf.

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations are made in view of lessons learnt. 1. Early start up of this type of initiative rather than towards the end of the electoral cycle. 2. Continue VAWIP campaign and providing support to survivors throughout the electoral

cycle. 3. Implement the Kaduna State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion policy to ensure gender

equality and women’s empowerment. 4. Ministry of Women Affairs social welfare officials to provide counselling and temporary

shelter to survivors of VAWIP. 5. Pursue the signing into law of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition law passed by the

State Assembly to give legal backing to VAWIP enforcement. 6. Women are encouraged not to be deterred in participating in the election despite the cases

of abuses of dignity of womanhood and other forms of dehumanizing acts recorded during the election.

7. Political parties to commit to a violent free electioneering (Zero tolerance to violence in the electoral process and to VAWIP) and to adopt and implement gender sensitive policies for empowerment of women and to encourage women and vulnerable women in politics.

8. Political Parties should accept election results in good faith instead of threatening female candidates to accept cooked up results.

9. Security agents to put all measures in place for the protection of the electorate especially women and ensure that all perpetrators of violence are apprehended and duly prosecuted in order to deter further occurrence.

7.0 CONCLUSION Stop-VAWIP Network in Kaduna State is committed to awareness raising, advocating for behavioral change, sensitizing citizens on gender-based violence (GBV), tracking and responding to cases of GBV, and improving women’s political participation in Kaduna state. SVAC, and its participating stakeholders of the Stop-VAWIP Network, including LANW, NDI, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Nigerian Police Force, NSCDC, NOA, Ministry of Justice, Salama Sexual Assault and Refferal Centre, FIDA, National Association of Women Journalists, Traditional and Faith based leaders, Women’s groups and

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other civil society groups commit to fostering better women’s understanding of their roles in governance and enhance more voice and space for women’s participation

8.0 APPENDICES

Links to Newspapaer stories 1. NRM house of reps candidate rejects Kaduna South LG election results over allege irregularities

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nrm-house-of-reps-candidate-rejects-kaduna-south-lg-election-results-over-allege-irregularities/

2. http://gobroadsheet.com/stop-violence-against-women-in-politics-committee-reviews-presidential-election-in-kaduna-registers-95-comments-on-logistics-failure/

3. http://gobroadsheet.com/stop-vawip-female-house-of-reps-candidate-decries-foul-play-in-kaduna-south-lg-during-presidential-election-calls-for-recount/

4. http://newnigeriannewspaper.com/election-monitoring-stop-vawip-says-logistics-still-a-serious-issue/

5. http://newswebexpress.com/rescheduled-election-logistics-was-major-issue-says-election-monitoring-group/

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6. http://talknigerian.com/women-representation-in-government-decline-ngo/

7. https://gobroadsheet.com/2019. Kaduna Walks to stop Violence Against Women in Politics 8. horizonf,ng/inec-calls –for full-participation of women in forthcoming election”:Commissioner