Electoral Violence Against Women in Kogi State
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STOP-VAWIE Focus Group
Discussions: A Report on
Kogi State
Prof O J Para-Mallam
,
mni - Consultant
National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies
, Kuru
12/10/2015
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TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE
CONTEXTUAL DYNAMICS OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN IN ELECTIONS AND
ASSIST POLICY MAKERS, POLITICAL
ACTORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS
TO DESIGN WELL-TARGETED SOLUTIONS
AIM of the STUDY
Specific Objectives
Specific Objectives
METHODOLOGY
Technique:
The FGD technique, being a participatory method
Sample:
Two FGDs were held with eight (8) participants each – a
total of 16 women consisting of voters,
aspirants/candidates and election officials
A brief PowerPoint presentation:
To standardized definition of VAWIE
Modality:
Two (2) two-hour FGD sessions were held – one in the
morning and another in the afternoon
Data Presentation:
Discussion (1)
Nature
and Extent
of Violence
All types
of
violence
are
present
and
widespre
ad.
‘Because what these male candidates
will do, they will go and borrow
money, they will even go and sell
their land to give the delegates. And
delegates, they go for highest bidder.
So at the end of the day, you will see
yourself going nowhere. That was
what happened. So even in
appointing offices, then we had only
one woman in the Kogi State House
of Assembly. But today, no woman.
So we’re going from frying pan to
fire’.
(FGD participant, 12/10/2015)
Data Presentation:
Discussion (2)
Perpetrators
Men
Male-
dominated
political
machinery
Society
Women
They use security agents. Local
security agents they call them
vigilantes. They use them to
intimidate politicians. Most of
them they came out and have
already taken sides before they
became a member. So when
they become members, they
(politicians) use their position
as vigilante group members to
set trap for aspirants
.
(FGD
participant, 12/10/2015)
Data Presentation: Discussion (3)
Causes of
VAWIE
Tradition is
the root
cause of all
other forms
of VAWIE
Poor participation of women
in election processes stems
from the strong ideology of
gender bias as embedded in
tradition.
Lack of access to critical
resources such as education
and leadership.
The over-riding political
culture of money politics
and ‘godfatherism’
Data Presentation:
Discussion (4)
Impacts of
VAWIE
On women
On quality
of
democracy
The one (violence) that comes
from inside too (from women),
let’s talk about it. When women
are jealous of each other and
are the ones perpetrating
violence against themselves.
Because we are more in
number, without money we can
get somebody into position.
(FGD participant, 10/10/2015)
Leaders being selected instead of
elected causing lack of
accountability to the electorate.
For instance, the market women
leader claimed that, “the local
government chairpersons, they
were all planted by the
government of the day. They
don’t have anything to give or
say.”
Poor quality of work, which leads
to underdevelopment and
anarchy.
Data Presentation: Discussion (5)
Mechanisms
to curb
VAWIE
State
Non-state
The one (violence) that comes
from inside too (from women),
let’s talk about it. When women
are jealous of each other and
are the ones perpetrating
violence against themselves.
Because we are more in
number, without money we can
get somebody into position.
(FGD participant, 10/10/2015)
State: zero to low awareness
Non-State:
FIDA can help pursue
(cases of electoral violation)
(FGD participant, 12/10/2015)
Data Presentation: Discussion (6)
Solutions to VAWIE
Short to Medium-term
Women should be in support of one another.
Voter education will go a long way in creating the right civic awareness in
the citizenry especially the women.
There should be collective gender solidarity.
Long-term
Break the culture of tradition-induced gender inequality.
Strengthen security agencies to effectively handle VAWIE cases.
Formulation of anti-VAWIE policies backed by strong political will.
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS
The women in Kogi State experience different types of
election violence which can be identified as physical,
sexual, psychological, socio-economic and harmful
traditional practices.
Men are found to be at the leading edge of perpetrating
VAWIE alongside the different societal structures at their
beck and call which include security personnel, husbands
and the youth.
Poor participation of women in election processes stems
from the strong ideology of gender bias as heavily
embedded in tradition.
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS (Contd.)
Women withdraw from full participation in election
processes due to VAWIE. This results in zero
representation of women at all levels of decision making.
This gender discrimination has led to lopsided
development and poor leadership.
Awareness of existence of institutional mechanisms to
curb VAWIE is at a low ebb among women in Kogi State
and those who do know about them confirmed that they
were not functional in the State.
Women in Kogi anticipate positive shift through short
and long-term solutions to VAWIE.
VISIONS OF CHANGE
This report presents findings from focus group discussions on violence against women in elections in Kogi State, Nigeria. The study aims to uncover the various forms of electoral violence experienced by female candidates and voters, identify perpetrators, examine the impact on women's political participation, evaluate institutional redress mechanisms, and explore potential solutions. Methodology involved participatory FGD sessions with 16 women, revealing widespread violence and challenges faced in the electoral process.
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Presentation Transcript
STOP-VAWIE Focus Group Discussions: A Report on Kogi State Prof O J Para-Mallam, mni - Consultant National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies , Kuru 12/10/2015
AIM of the STUDY TO FOSTER AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTEXTUAL DYNAMICS AGAINST WOMEN IN ASSIST POLICY MAKERS, ACTORS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ACTIVISTS TO DESIGN WELL-TARGETED SOLUTIONS OF VIOLENCE ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL
Specific Objectives Discover what specific forms and levels of violence female aspirants/ candidates, party activists, supporters and voters encountered 1. Investigate the identity of the perpetrators of the various forms of electoral violence 2. Investigate the immediate and remote causes of electoral violence against women 3.
Specific Objectives Understand the potential or actual impact of VAWIE on women s ability to participate in the electoral process as well as on the democratic quality of the election 4. Assess the nature and effectiveness of state or non-state institutional mechanisms in providing redress for female victims of electoral violence 5. Gain an understanding of women s perspectives on possible solutions to electoral violence 6.
METHODOLOGY Technique: The FGD technique, being a participatory method Sample: Two FGDs were held with eight (8) participants each a total of 16 women consisting of voters, aspirants/candidates and election officials A brief PowerPoint presentation: To standardized definition of VAWIE Modality: Two (2) two-hour FGD sessions were held one in the morning and another in the afternoon
Data Presentation: Discussion (1) Because what these male candidates will do, they will go and borrow money, they will even go and sell their land to give the delegates. And delegates, they go for highest bidder. So at the end of the day, you will see yourself going nowhere. That was what happened. So even in appointing offices, then we had only one woman in the Kogi State House of Assembly. But today, no woman. So we re going from frying pan to fire . (FGD participant, 12/10/2015) Nature and Extent of Violence All types of violence are present and widespre ad.
Data Presentation: Discussion (2) They use security agents. Local security agents they call them vigilantes. They use them to intimidate politicians. Most of them they came out and have already taken sides before they became a member. So when they become members, they (politicians) use their position as vigilante group members to set trap for aspirants. (FGD participant, 12/10/2015) Perpetrators Men Male- dominated political machinery Society Women
Data Presentation: Discussion (3) Poor participation of women in election processes stems from the strong ideology of gender bias as embedded in tradition. Causes of VAWIE Tradition is the root cause of all other forms of VAWIE Lack of access to critical resources such as education and leadership. The over-riding political culture of money politics and godfatherism
Data Presentation: Discussion (4) Leaders being selected instead of elected causing lack of accountability to the electorate. For instance, the market women leader claimed that, the local government chairpersons, they were all planted by the government of the day. They don t have anything to give or say. Impacts of VAWIE On women On quality of democracy The one (violence) that comes from inside too (from women), let s talk about it. When women are jealous of each other and are the ones perpetrating violence against themselves. Because we are more in number, without money we can get somebody into position. (FGD participant, 10/10/2015) Poor quality of work, which leads to underdevelopment and anarchy.
Data Presentation: Discussion (5) Mechanisms to curb VAWIE State Non-state The one (violence) that comes from inside too (from women), let s talk about it. When women are jealous of each other and are the ones perpetrating violence against themselves. Because we are more in number, without money we can get somebody into position. (FGD participant, 10/10/2015) State: zero to low awareness Non-State: FIDA can help pursue (cases of electoral violation) (FGD participant, 12/10/2015)
Data Presentation: Discussion (6) Solutions to VAWIE Short to Medium-term Women should be in support of one another. Voter education will go a long way in creating the right civic awareness in the citizenry especially the women. There should be collective gender solidarity. Long-term Break the culture of tradition-induced gender inequality. Strengthen security agencies to effectively handle VAWIE cases. Formulation of anti-VAWIE policies backed by strong political will.
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS The women in Kogi State experience different types of election violence which can be identified as physical, sexual, psychological, socio-economic and harmful traditional practices. Men are found to be at the leading edge of perpetrating VAWIE alongside the different societal structures at their beck and call which include security personnel, husbands and the youth. Poor participation of women in election processes stems from the strong ideology of gender bias as heavily embedded in tradition.
SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS (Contd.) Women withdraw from full participation in election processes due to VAWIE. This results in zero representation of women at all levels of decision making. This gender discrimination has led to lopsided development and poor leadership. Awareness of existence of institutional mechanisms to curb VAWIE is at a low ebb among women in Kogi State and those who do know about them confirmed that they were not functional in the State. Women in Kogi anticipate positive shift through short and long-term solutions to VAWIE.
