The Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers (WOFCTTRA) has called for stronger community based justice mechanisms to promote gender equity and social inclusion across communities in the territory.
The President of the association, Her Royal Highness, Hajiya Hauwa Adamu, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop.
The workshop had the theme, “Promoting Gender Equity and Social Inclusion through Community-Based Justice Mechanisms.”
Adamu said traditional institutions occupied a strategic position in addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly, who often sought justice through community structures.
“The community is always the first point of call for these vulnerable people when something happens. Sometimes they are afraid to go to the police or even the hospital but prefer to take their complaints to the palaces”.
According to her, traditional rulers and their spouses are uniquely placed to influence positive social values, resolve disputes and promote peaceful coexistence within communities where justice is fair
“When justice is fair and inclusive, communities are stronger, families are more resilient, and development becomes more sustainable”.
Adamu explained that gender equity and social inclusion were aimed at ensuring equal opportunities and access to justice for all, regardless of gender, age, disability or social status.
“Gender equity and social inclusion are about giving everyone equal opportunities and ensuring that all people, regardless of their gender, age, disability or social status, can participate in society and access justice with dignity and respect.”
Also speaking, Mrs Beatrice Mube, Head of disability unit of the FCT Women Affairs, said that traditional beliefs and systemic gaps continued to limit access to justice, healthcare and public services for persons with disabilities.
Mube said that disability should also be recognised within the broader context of gender-based violence, as persons with disabilities face unique forms of abuse and discrimination.
“When we talk about gender-based violence, we often forget disability-based violence.
“A woman in a wheelchair can be raped because she cannot run, a blind woman can be abused because she cannot see, and a deaf woman may not even be able to report such abuse”.
Mube also raised concern about poor maternal healthcare support for women with disabilities, warning that communication gaps in hospitals often lead to misdiagnosis and poor treatment outcomes.
“Sometimes pregnant women with disabilities cannot communicate their health conditions to doctors, and they are treated based on assumptions. This can lead to serious complications for both mother and child”.
She, therefore, called for increased support for families of children with disabilities, urging society to eliminate stigma and ensure access to education and care.
The President of Dorathy Njemanze Foundation, Dorathy Njemanze, gave practical ways by which traditional justice could be delivered.
According to her, confidentiality should be prioritised when handling sensitive cases, especially those involving sexual and gender-based violence.
“When people come to the palace for help, not everybody should hear the full details of their story. Victims should be provided with safe spaces where they can speak freely and with dignity”.
She also recommended mediation training for individuals working closely with traditional institutions to improve the quality of dispute resolution at the community level.
“I think every community should have more people trained in mediation so that the principles of mediation are better applied, even within the community justice system”.
Njemanze further urged traditional leaders and community members to reject out-of-court settlements in cases of rape and child marriage, warning that such practices often deny victims justice.
She called on traditional institutions, community leaders and stakeholders to adopt inclusive practices that protect victims, uphold human dignity and strengthen community-based justice systems.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is being implemented in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation and the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED).
