Ahead of the Kogi State off circle Governorship election, the Challenged Parenthood Initiative is seeking to Jointly host a Case Tracking and Response Centre at the Command headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Executive Director, CPI made the disclosure when she led a delegation of National Democratic Institute NDI, BIGIF to the Command headquarters of the NSCDC, Lokoja, Kogi State.
The CPI delegation was received by Commandant John Kayode Oyinloye and other top heads of Unit of the NSCDC.
The initiative Ms. Eunice Agbogun, Executive Director CPI explained is to help address the problems of violence against women which deters active participation of women in politics, especially during election.
Ms. Eunice linked incidences of violence against women which includes physical, psychological, economic and semiotic violence before, during and after election as common reasons for voters apathy in Nigeria.
While pointing out that the culture of silence and poor attitude towards case reporting have constituted major barriers to the prevention of violence against women in politics, hence the need to stop violence against women in politics which led to the Stop VAWIP campaign.
The Executive Director explained that the joint Case Tracking and Response Centre was experimented using the Ekiti State Governorship election, recorded a huge success in case reporting, tracking cases of violence and allowed for quick response.
As part of the collaboration, Ms Eunice if accepted will agree to deploy the N- Alert app to support the activities of the CTRC.
Similarly, the NSCDC she said will help designate personnel, a gender focal person to support CTRC in Lokoja using the toll free line and use it to promote the Stop VAWIP toll free line before, during and after the election.
The Executive Director CPI also said the partnership will require the Commandant of NSCDC to give deterrence messages against perpetrators of violence against women in politics as well agree to jointly hold pre and post election Press Conference with CPI.
In a brief presentation on CTRC, Nelson Akerele, Program Manager, BIGIF Ekiti State, gave a brief presentation of CTRC and the success recorded in during the Ekiti State Governorship election.
In her remarks, Mrs. Annabel Ugwoke representing NDI, assured of the support of the Institute in the collaboration pointing out that the initiative will enable and encourage Women participation in politics.
In his response, the Commandant, NSCDC, John Kayode Oyinloye solicited a written proposal for onward delivery and approval from the National Headquarters of NSCDC, assured of a cordial working relationship if the approval scales through.