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Women, who do not
necessarily partake in conflict situations or the processes that lead
to them, are usually the most affected by the several ethno-religious
crisis that have hit Nigeria in recent times.

Several
professionals in Gender Studies and Women Affairs, who came to this
consensus during a conference on Women’s Human Rights and Religion, in
Abuja, organised by a non-governmental organisation, BAOBAB for Women’s
Human Rights, also advised women to be more proactive in their response
to conflict situations.

Aituaje Pogoson, a
senior lecturer at the University of Ibadan, said women and children
are more susceptible to unprovoked violence during and after conflict
situations. “Women who are not involved in the decisions that lead to
religious and ethnic conflicts usually bear the brunt of the
conflicts,” she said. “Women are more susceptible to harm in conflict
situations whether or not they are involved in the war or conflict
situation. The able bodied men go to war but the women are left
unprotected and to care for the children leaving them vulnerable to
attacks.”

Mrs. Pogoson advocated for an increased focus on how women survive during and after conflict situations.

In support, Doris
Onieje, who lectures at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, reiterated
that the coverage of the recent Jos crisis by the Nigerian media did
not draw much attention to the plight of women, some of whom were
widowed, raped, and killed during the course of the conflict. “The
media has failed to adequately capture the impact of the conflict on
women,” she said.

No security during conflicts

Vonke Dickson, a
participant in the conference, recounted a frightful experience during
the Jos crisis. Five days ago, Mrs. Dickson said she was alone in her
home with her two children, aged 10 months and 3 years. Not too far
away in a neighbouring village, Mahza, a fresh upheaval had just
occurred and she feared that her village would be next. Mrs. Dickson,
with her husband away, kept vigil from midnight till dawn with no way
to contact any emergency service. “I could do nothing but stay awake
and wish that there was an emergency number that I could call,” she
said. “Even if I could jump over the fence and run away, what about the
children?” Her story effectively re-emphasized the helpless state that
women, who are left to care for the children in conflict situation,
find themselves.

Some speakers urged
women who overhear plans by their husbands, brothers, or neighbours to
perpetrate violence, to alert relevant authorities so that future
conflicts can be prevented. “Women must learn to speak out and report
such plans which lead to conflicts,” Mrs. Obieje said, adding that more
women should “clamour for affirmative participation in policy making.”
Other speakers, however, rose in defence of women who keep silent in
conflict situations.

“Women should be encouraged to speak out. But we must realise that
keeping quiet is something that has been embedded in our subconscious
by the society because of cultural or religious reasons. Women are
usually expected to be silent,” Snow Ogunjimi, who is the Programme
Officer (Youth and Women Initiatives) in TY Danjuma Foundation, said.
Mrs. Pogoson agreed with Ms. Ogunjimi. “It may not always be deliberate
silence, but that which has existed over the years. Women need courage
to be able to report some of the things they may overhear,” she said.