Towards reducing violence against women in politics, Kimpact Development Initiative has trained monitors in 8 States across Nigeria on Women, Peace and Security Indicators, WPSI.
First of its kind across the world, WPSI is enhancing predictions of political violence and it is being executed by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and KDI in collaboration with the United States Department of State Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations.
While facilitating the training session which held in Kogi and Imo States, Bukola Idowu, Executive Director, KDI explained that, “this project aims to develop a publicly available set of qualitative and quantitative
WPSI to enhance the effectiveness of early warning systems.
Idowu explained that, “researches over the years established the direct links between the promotion of gender equality and conflict prevention and that conflict prevention and resolution efforts are more effective when they include gender dimensions.
“However efforts to include gender sensitive indicators in early warning
systems are infrequent and inconsistent. Most early warning systems still do
not monitor or track gender indicators or data.
“Thus, the indicators aim to measure gendered dimensions which may contribute to violence and instability and NOT how instability/ violence may impact on women and girls.”
Joining the training via zoom, Louis Allen, WPSI Consultant for IFES explained the 5 indicators which would be used to monitor the election process.
She listed the indicators as, “incidents of targeted violence and intimidation against women and men voters; Number of arrests of women and men active in political and electoral processes, and the level of violence used during arrest
“Number of campaign communications/ materials which use or refer to misogynistic, homophobic or sexist references or propaganda;
“Changes to number women in common places during the electoral period; and
“Any changes in rates of sexual and gender-based violence leading up to and after the election.”
She added that, “after this first pilot, the indicators will hopefully be included in other electoral and political violence systems around the world to make nale for these 5 indicators”.
The WPSI Monitors were drawn from Edo, Ondo, Cross Rivers, Imo, Kogi, Lagos and Plateau where bye-elections will be holding.