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Oxfam said it has followed the news and developments about advocacy championed by the female folks with frustration at the slowness of change in institutions and a renewed sense of optimism in the potential for change.
Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria,Iftikhar Nizami, speaking on Thursday in a statement to commemorate the International Women’s Day,also said the International humanitarian organisation “will #PressforProgress by doubling our efforts in challenging stereotypes and bias that limit women.”
According to him, through the worldwide ENOUGH Campaign to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG),with which Oxfam aims to challenge and change social norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls, harmful norms will be replaced “with positive norms that promote gender equality and non-violence.”
He said Oxfam will #PressforProgress by giving credit to and making “visible women’s contributions and achievements in our communities and the country at large.”
Oxfam, he said, will also work with its Goodwill Ambassadors like Lami Phillips to put a spotlight on the #SOAMAZING things millions of women are doing despite numerous challenges they are facing.
He, however, said with the news of condemnable conduct from one of Oxfam staff members’ conduct in Haiti and Chad, and the uproar that followed, the organization has had a front row seat to how even great institutions that have done great work can do much better in putting in place safeguarding measures that ensure the respect of the communities.
“Internally, we are reshaping the culture of Oxfam to shift the power to ensure women’s voices are listened to and respected.We have increased the number of our safeguarding experts to ensure that our internal systems in respect of references are rigorous and effective.
“We are strengthening our protocols, examining how we interact with local communities and committing to working with government authorities to swiftly address any such abuses by any member of Oxfam staff in Nigeria,”Nizami said.
