Experts from the United Nations (UN), are seeking for partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of women affairs in a bid to make the care of older women a priority.
While receiving the delegation of the United Nations Independent Experts On the Enjoyment Of All Human Rights By Older Persons to Nigeria in an official visit to her office 8th September, 2022, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen OFR, KSG said that senior citizens should not be left behind in order for them to enjoy their old age.
The Minister who warmly received the UN Team in company of the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shinkafi re-emphasized that the mission of the Team is already part of the Ministry’s Mission, Vision and Mandates.
As contained in a press statement signed by Press & Public Relations Director of the Ministry, Dame Tallen who asserted that the problem faced in the society today is traced to the neglect of the elderly, promised to work with the Team on their laudable mandates as she maintained that elderly people deserve attention, care and love.
The Minister commended the UN for having a mandate on the cause of older persons and for developing such mandates “where no one is left behind within gender equality.” Without mincing word, the Minister said that issues of gender-based violence, climate change and crime against humanity must be addressed.
Speaking earlier, Claudia Mahler in company of her team, thanked the Minister for warmly receiving her team requesting Nigeria to “put some importance on older women because they are vulnerable people in the society.”
The visiting UN Expert on The Enjoyment Of All Human Rights By Older Persons to Nigeria asserts that there is a gap in data, policy and practice on matters concerning the elderly as “they are not included in decision making process”.
She observed that as demographics are changing in favour of older women, people should get prepared to care for the elderly; stressing that climate change has a lot of impact on the lives of women especially those living in rural areas.
Claudia disclosed that the mission of the team is to collaborate with the Ministry to create awareness on this issue and also, to “assess the situation” so as to get fruitful exchanges and insights from the Ministry.
Meanwhile, Mahler’s Team has already pulled in, the Director-General, Senior Citizens Commission of Nigeria, Dr. M.M. Omokaro to join the Women Affairs Team that will give her insight into how older women are being treated in Nigeria and suggestions on what the UN can do to assist in remediating gaps.