Mimiko calls for full domestication of women’s rights laws at FIDA ondo week

.....Warns against rising digital violence, urges governments to translate policies into action

By Our Correspondent

Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko on Monday declared that Nigeria’s commitment to women’s rights will remain superficial until governments at all levels fully domesticate and implement all international conventions on gender equality.

He made the call in Akure while delivering the Keynote Address at the

International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA Ondo  Week 2025, themed “Turning Policy to Action: Advancing Women’s Rights Through Law and Governance”, with the tagline “Promoting, Protecting and Preserving the Rights, Interests and Welfare of Women, Children and Persons With Disabilities.”

The event drew eminent people from far and near, especially from the bar and bench,civil society groups, among others.The week-long programme runs from December 4 to 9, 2025.

Dr. Mimiko said global research and lived experiences continue to show that women have historically “held the short end of the stick” due to entrenched structural inequalities reinforced by culture, tradition, religion, and economic imbalances.

Quoting global reports, Mimiko raised concern that the digital world has become a battlefield of harassment, abuse and torture.

He emphasized that unless governments, tech companies, civil society and community institutions deliberately enforce policy commitments, “the best laws will remain mere paperwork.”

He described women’s rights as fundamental human rights rooted in decades of international charters, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

But he lamented that although Nigeria has ratified many of these conventions, “ratification alone does not make them enforceable under Nigerian law. Treaties must be domesticated by the National Assembly or adapted by state governments.”

This, he argued, is why major protective laws such as CEDAW and the Child Rights Convention remain partially implemented.

He also described gender-based violence as largely rooted in physical and economic power imbalances.

Reflecting on global gender advocacy, Mimiko traced the evolution of women’s rights discourse through landmark UN conferences — Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995).

He described the Beijing Declaration and platform for action as the “catechism of global women’s rights advocacy”, which crystallized global consensus on eliminating violence, empowering women politically, and integrating gender perspectives into policy and governance.

He commended Nigerian women for their resilience but urged policymakers to expand women’s political inclusion, strengthen the VAPP law, and ensure prompt justice for victims of gender-based violence.

Mimiko also called for drastic efforts to curb maternal mortality, describing it as “one of the most heartbreaking indicators of gender inequality.”

Earlier, the Chairperson of FIDA Ondo State, Bolanle Olafunmiloye,  said this year’s theme reflects the urgent need for deliberate action to confront rising cases of domestic abuse, rape, incest and harmful cultural practices.

She lamented that reports of gender-based violence received by FIDA and allied organisations continue to escalate, describing the trend as “alarming and unacceptable.”

She commended the state government, First Lady,Mrs Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa Attorney-General Dr. Kayode Ajulo SAN and the NBA for their continued support.

The Country Vice President of FIDA Nigeria, Eliana Martins, represented by Olubunmi Niyi-Arajuwa, said translating policy into action requires the commitment of every sector — lawmakers, lawyers, communities, and institutions.

She stressed that  the association doesn't focuses on women and girls alone ,“the rights of men and boys will also be protected to ensure a balanced and just society.”

Chairman of the 2025 Planning Committee, Fidan Kudirat Gbadamosi, said the week’s activities ,including visits to correctional centres, courts, orphanages, medical outreach and the Awards/Dinner are designed to amplify advocacy and strengthen community engagement.

She described gender-based violence, rape and incest as threats destabilizing families, urging women to lead the charge in confronting harmful norms.

Panelists including former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, public health expert Dr. Lawal Oyeneyin, Executive Secretary of OSAA-GBV Mrs. Bolanle Afolabi, and gender advocate Chief Mrs. Olamide Falana stressed the need for strengthening legal protection and prosecution of offenders,providing psychosocial support for survivors,increasing women’s political participation and leadership.

They also advocated for community-level sensitization to dismantle cultural barriers,better funding for GBV agencies and shelters,digital safety education for young girls,timely delivery of justice and improved investigative processes.

They insisted that society must shift from rhetoric to action to ensure that women, children and persons with disabilities enjoy full protection under the law.

Stakeholders at the event posited that the 2025 FIDA Ondo week opened with renewed calls for political will, legal reforms and multi-sectoral collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers that hinder women’s rights.

They reaffirmed that translating policy into action is not optional, it is the only pathway to building a just, safe and equitable society.