ECOWAS female parliamentarians under the aegis of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians’ Association (ECOFEPA) are holding a special forum on the subregion’s women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment on Wednesday in Lomé, Togo.
The event with the theme: “Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion,” aims to address challenges women face in accessing financial services and unlocking women’s potential to drive regional development.
The forum is taking place on the sidelines of the parliament’s delocalised 2024 Third Extraordinary Session, which is ongoing in the Togolese capital, the parliament’s communication directorate stated on Wednesday.
“This initiative is designed to influence systemic change for women.
“It is bringing together stakeholders to pool knowledge, experience, and expertise and co-create solutions to financial autonomy and enabling women to participate in public governance without hindrance,” it said.
Speaking earlier ahead of the event, Nigeria’s Sen. Ipalibo Banigo had urged the parliament to implement the 30 per cent female representation in the parliament as enshrined in its Supplementary Act.
She urged the parliament to sanction member states that failed to comply with the Act, which mandates each state to ensure that 30 per cent of its parliamentary delegation comprises women.
Banigo decried the dwindling number of female representation, noting that the greatest challenge was that most national parliaments did not have enough female members, and called for intensive advocacy and awareness.
“If any national parliament violates this requirement, there should be sanctions. Any country that sends a list that does not comply with the provisions should be sent back.
“We are advocating for more women to join parliaments in their various countries because they have a lot to bring to the table.
“We believe that with greater advocacy, awareness, and with the cooperation of various stakeholders, there will be more women into parliamentary positions in the ECOWAS Parliament,” Banigo stressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ECOFEPA, which comprises all female parliamentarians from ECOWAS’ 15 member states, was established in 2003 and later inaugurated in March 2010.
It provides a platform for female parliamentarians to unite, interface, and discuss issues affecting them as women and politicians.
Meanwhile, NAN also reports that the lawmakers have adopted a draft resolution on the implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement, Right of Residence, and Establishment within West Africa at the meeting.
The parliamentarians in a communique issued after adopting the report, urged member states to enforce the community’s free movement of persons and goods protocol, as well as sanctions against defaulters.
They called on member states to accelerate the issuance of uniform and accessible biometric identity cards to community citizens, and include modules on training immigration and customs officers to that effect. (NAN)
