FIDA decries global mental ill health rise in women

• Calls for special gender commission to provide gender training on human rights of women and children
• To advocate for stronger laws for gender based violence violations against offender, protection of victims of abuse

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has expressed concern over the escalation of mental ill health among women.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought with it new stressors on many women, thereby increasing mental health challenges.

The group which noted that one in five women (19%) particularly in underdeveloped countries experience a common mental disorder similar to anxiety or depression, compared to one in eight (12%) men said there is clear evidence that women are more predisposed to mental illness than other sexes on account of societal pressures.  

Noting also that women’s mental health is linked to their experiences of violence and abuse which increased during the Covid-19 lockdown across the world, FIDA resolved to work on promoting gender equality, mental and menstrual health education as well as strengthen strategies to reduce violence against young women.

Rising from its just concluded 37th Triennial International Convention, under the theme “From Barriers to Bridges” the association acknowledged that with sufficient social support system, women and girls that had been suppressed by negative discrimination would become more confident and empowered.

The Convention which held virtually on the Demio webinar platform due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and protocols, was initially scheduled to hold in Geneva, Switzerland in November 2020.

Thus, following presentations and panel discussions on various topics, members and participants deliberated and arrived on a number of resolutions including to lobby and advocate for the integration of culturally appropriate talk therapy into existing health care platforms for the benefit of women and girls with mental health problems.

Delegates also pledged to advocate for a special gender commission to provide gender training on the human rights of women and children to all high court judges and magistrates adding that it will soon commence advocacy for stronger laws for gender based violence violations against the offender and protection of victims of abuse.

Likewise, delegates assured they will collaborate extensively with government and non-government agencies, civil society organisations at global, regional and national levels, to improve information technology, protect women in physical spaces and promote equal access to justice.

The Convention which had delegates from 24 countries spread across five continent began with a colourful opening ceremony featuring a keynote speech by the Honorable Ruth Bowe-Darville Justice of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Acknowledging that the theme was timely and noting the success of FIDA and its continued commitment to eliminating the many social barriers by providing bridges as solutions in the quest for equality and justice, Honorable Ruth Bowe-Darville urged FIDA to hold high the flag of equality on top of the bridge.

At the end of it all, delegates deliberated and resolved as follows:

Economic Rights of Women: A Comparative Analysis

• Urge Governments to create a gendered response, transformative and sustainable empowerment strategy with an outcome-based structure starting with the political will at the level of policy makers to the grass root mobilizers of the national economy.

• Advocate for entrepreneurship, education, gender inclusive business policies, financial literacy, access to capital and market information, business linkages for trade and continuous coaching and mentoring, to support women transform from producers/supporters to business owners/leaders while creating wealth, employment and growing the national economy.

Women’s Health and Well- Being: Connecting Mind, Body & Spirit

• Work on promoting gender equality, mental and menstrual health education, and strengthen strategies to reduce violence against young women.
• Lobby and advocate for the integration of culturally appropriate talk therapy into existing health care platforms so that women and girls with mental health problems can be helped.

Information Technology- A Bridge or A Barrier to Women’s Right & Access to Justice

• Advocate for and support the mobilization of technology tools to women; “putting laptops in the hands of the underprivileged.”

• Urge countries to implement data policies and strategies that allow them to measure, track, monitor and evaluate the life cycle of policies once implemented.

• Advocate for the creation of effective online educational programs that make STEM education, up-skilling courses, and vocational trainings more affordable, accessible, and more inclusive.

• Advocate for the reduction and mitigation of gender biases and stigmas; legal information literacy through continuous awareness campaigns; bringing justice to the doorstep.

• Collaborate extensively with government and non-government agencies, civil society organisations at global, regional and national levels, to improve information technology, protect women in physical spaces and promote equal access to justice.

Facing Challenges – A Broad Spectrum From Living With Disabilities to Eradicating Gender Based Violence

Resolved to:

• Urge states to pass legislation and adopt or implement existing policies, which encourage equality amongst women who are at a disadvantage, protect the economic and property rights of women, consistent with constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination and advocating equality.

• Advocate for stronger laws for gender based violence violations against the offender, protection of victims of abuse.

• Urge victims and the community to utilize social media platforms to speak out against gender based violence, form online support groups for victims and the community to share information.

• Advocate for all buildings and premises such as court rooms and police stations to be accessible for women and girls with disabilities, services such as sign language signs, braille on signs and documents, and interpreters.

• Advocate for access to interest-free and start-up loans to enable women with disabilities and victims of gender based violence to have greater economic mobility and economic independence.

• Engage in disability awareness and sensitization campaigns for the wider community and train and empower the public to recognize and report persons who may be victims of gender based violence.

• Advocate for the right to access freely and consciously chosen health service (voluntary sterilization as a form of permanent contraception) for women with disabilities; as well as the right to prior “informed, free and aware consent” to such services and the absence of coercion.

• Urge the community to treat women with disabilities with respect, and not pity and secure the rights needed to manage their lives effectively.

Transitional Justice Mechanisms in Protection of Women’s Rights

Resolved to:

• Urge FIDA member countries to review the process of the application of laws involving sexual violence to ensure that, within the sentencing phase, the victims are not burdened with repetition of the details of the crimes committed against them.
• Advocate for all member countries to include female perspectives in the creation and implementation of any laws.

• Advocate for a special gender commission to provide gender training on the human rights of women and children to all high court judges and magistrates in the judiciary.

FIDA & The Protection of Women’s Rights – Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (An Intergenerational Discourse)

Resolved to:

• Advocate for constitutional guarantees for effective representation and participation of women in leadership and governance through affirmative action and the use of quotas.
• Urge women to participate more in science, technology, engineering and Mathematics studies and careers as bridges for equal opportunities and for overcoming obstacles that hinder progress.
• Re-evaluate its methodologies in line with 21^st Century technology realities to increase the participation of members of different ages, location and experience in championing its causes and sustaining its impact.

The three-day event was concluded with the election of international officers where Nigeria clinched four positions.

FIDA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL  2021-2024 (Actual)