The National Gender Policy Strategic Framework (Implementation Plan) is a sector national strategic framework of Nigeria. It applies to the period of 2008– 2013. Its main objective is gender equality, the empowerment of women and women’s human rights. The Framework consists of four outcomes broken down into various outputs. Outcome 1 of the Framework entails changes in public perception of the roles of women and increasing respect for women and child rights. For this the following outputs are envisaged: (1) schools curricula reviewed and changed (primary and secondary) to reflect changing and empowering gender roles for women and men; (2) Nigeria’s popular culture reflects a new awareness of changing gender roles that support empowerment of women; and (3) engendered National Orientation Agency. The purpose of Outcome 2 is that women and child rights are promoted and protected. For this the following outputs are contemplated: legal and Constitutional reforms undertaken to promote the principles of non-discrimination, protection and promotion of women and child rights; the administration of justice in Nigeria is more proactive in the protection of women and child rights using Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; gender is mainstreamed within the National Legal Aid Structure; harmful traditional practices against women and children criminalised in Nigeria; national response on sexual and gender based violence and women rights abuses available; strengthened capacities of organisations of women living with HIV/AIDS and with disabilities to engage in discourse affecting their rights and influence decision making for equal access and empowerment; and strengthened capacity of States’ and National Assemblies to initiate and pass into law, bills promoting women’s human rights and participation. Outcome 3 of the Framework provides for reduction in the overall poverty index of women. To this end, the following outputs are stipulated: strengthened capacities of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Export Promotion Council to support gender sensitive trade regime; fund established to support small and medium scale women entrepreneurs; and enhanced capacities of women entrepreneurs and producers. Lastly, Outcome 4 targets at national accountability to gender equality and promotion of child rights enhanced. The following outputs are contained in this Outcome: enhanced capacities of the national and states’ gender machinery to implement and monitor the implementation the National Gender Policy as an accountability tool on national commitments; capacity of the Ministries of Planning & Finance strengthened to provide guidelines for institutionalisation of gender sensitive budgeting; strengthened capacities of political parties to mainstream gender and promote women’s empowerment (manifestoes & strategies to implement with allocated resources); electoral reforms undertaken to ensure that policy is integrated within electoral laws; and capacities of women affected by conflict strengthened to engage in peace building initiatives in communities affected by conflict.
Nigeria · 2008-08-01