International Journal of Gender & Women's Studies

Gender Mainstreaming and the Impacts of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta Region
Agbegbedia Oghenevwoke Anthony

Abstract
The Niger Delta people have been in the agitation for justice for over four decades, but the turning point in the crisis came as a result of the emergence of organized pressure groups which witnessed series of protest against human right abuses and environmental degradation in the region. Women and children suffer great hardship in time of conflict and those of the Niger Delta are no exception as they are subjected to all kinds of violence: physical and psychological violence, destruction of properties and loss of loved ones. The level of violence almost tipped to a point of outright warfare, when by June 25th, 2009, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua publicly announced a 60 days amnesty offer to be effective from August 4th to October 4th 2009. This was to halt the hostilities in the Niger Delta region and to show commitment of government towards achieving peace in the region. This work therefore, examined the involvement of women in the amnesty programme and its impact on the region. Secondary sources were used and inferences drawn qualitatively. Findings indicate that women have not been given adequate consideration in the process while most of the men ex-militants have benefited from it immensely.

Full Text: PDF