COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE 2021 NIGER DELTA WOMEN’S DAY OF ACTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

League of Queens
Dec 22, 2021
2 min read

Women of the Niger Delta converged in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to mark the sixth edition of the Niger Delta Women Day of Action for Environmental Justice.

The Theme was "Building Feminist Economy for Ecosystem Restoration" and venue was Jerry Century Place.

The aim was to focus attention and discussion on need for more gender friendly economic policies for an improved Niger Delta. The forum acknowledged that women have made positive impact bringing about change but their needs are never brought to the negotiating table. It identified the need to redefine the relationship between men and women on economy and that because the rivers, air and soil in the region puts the region very much in danger.

That government doesn't care what happens to the people hence the long time in clamping the Santa Barbara spill in Nembe. Thepoor state of education and health system further worsens the state of the women.

That Insecurity and the attendant violence and other vices, place women, girls and children in greater danger. Oil pollution which keeps mounting without mitigation is increasing ill-health and incapacitating Niger Delta men with altered spermatozoa.

That oil is fast losing attention so need for a new economic agenda for the Niger Delta. The partriachy has indoctrinated women into accepting abnormal situations rather than breaking barriers to push women voices, and that every one is entitled to clean air, water and soil as fundamental rights now evading communities. That every one has a right to food choices guaranteed by natural agriculture.

After careful deliberations, the following resolutions were reached;

📍Women should redefine and set an agenda to bring issues about women to the forefront for needed action by government and other decision makers.

📍The education and health sectors should be upgraded to improve opportunities for women to effectively contribute to society and reduce violence and vices.

📍Women should collectively raise calls for a clean environment in the region.

📍That mitigation of all polluted sites must be a priority and important to bring women out of economic bondage.

📍Women should pull together to promote natural agriculture, and that with attention back to agriculture, there is need to adapt smart ways of making the most of nature.

📍Deliberate policies should be put in place for women to access financial and other opportunities and that, the 10 % of the PIA host community fund should be devoted to projects that will directly benefit women in the communities.

📍That Niger Delta states and local governments should adopt the Gender and Climate Change Action Plan.

Signed -

Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre.

Niger Delta Women.

Women in Climate Change.

Pius Dukor foundation.

Peace Point.

Rural Health and Women Development.

League of Queens International.

Mba Okase, Eleme.

Eedee Ladies of Tai.

Kallop Humanitarian and Environmental Centre.