Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Society for Women and Youths Affairs has demanded for the inclusion and consideration of women in activities of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project in Ogoniland, especially as it relates to access to potable water.
Provision of potable water to Ogoni communities was an emergency measure recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programme, since the underground source of water in Ogoniland according to UNEP, is 900 times contaminated with benzene, more than WHO standards.
Executive Director of Society for Women and Youths Affairs, Mrs. Stella Amanyie, advocated that the going potable water facilities in Ogoni, being set up by HYPREP should ensure that water is reticulated to areas with high concentration of women, such as markets.
Amanyie, at a civil society roundtable on Monitoring the Gender Impacts of HYPREP Water Project in Ogoniland, organised by SWAYA in Port Harcourt, said women should be part of the contracting process, in accordance with the 35percent affirmative action.
According to her, the workshop was imperative, as the goal was to ensure access to potable and clean water by the Ogoni women.
“To mobilize women to monitor the impact of HYPREP’s supply of water on their lives. To build the capacity of the Ogoni women on their rights to portable water and sanitation. To advocate for the participation of women in managing of the supply of water that will meet their needs.
“The Civil Society Roundtable on the provision of portable water in Ogoni that will meet the needs of the women.
“This roundtable brought together credible civil society organizations working on the issues to brainstorm on the state of affairs on water supply in Ogoni and how it can meet the needs of the women.”
The SWAYA boss also assured that the recommendations which would form outcome of the meeting will turn into a policy brief for further engagements with decision makers.
Amongst other issues raised by stakeholders include, “Women should be part of the contracting process. Water should be reticulated to areas where there is more concentration of women like markets, churches, schools etc.
“SWAYA to lead in the monitoring of HYPREP’s projects to ensure women are actively involved and considered as well as to also engage HYPREP to give at least 35percent of contracts to women.
“Prevail on HYPREP to set up a gender communication desk for women in the rural communities. So that whenever issues arise, women can always lodge such complaints through the right and proper channels.”
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