One of PIND’s guiding principles is to “Integrate gender and youth participation and mainstreaming of their issues into every aspect of project design and implementation to foster equitable participation and benefits for all”. In line with this value, PIND has been promoting gender equality in the Niger Delta region through its programs, projects and operations since its inception.
PIND has joined the global community to mark and celebrate international days with gender-related themes. Since 2015 PIND has planned activities with other development partners for the March 7 International Women’s Day (IWD) which provides opportunity to recognize achievements and call for greater equality for women. Similarly, since 2016 PIND has taken action to start creating awareness on issues concerning gender-based violence in line with the 16 days of activism from November 25 to December 10. Since its commemoration in 1991, the 16 Days Campaign has been used by individuals, groups and women’s rights organisations around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.
As part of support to the 16 Days campaign in 2017, PIND provided four gender-focused organizations with small grants to address issues relating to gender violence. The global theme of the United Nations (UN) Women was “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Make Education Safe for All”. PIND adopted its theme from the Global Theme to reflect constraints in the Niger Delta. The theme was “From Peace in the Home to Peace in Region: Improve access to education for women and girls in Niger Delta communities.”
Each organization was tasked with raising awareness on issues related to PIND’s theme and on through innovative activities and provide platforms to amplify voices on these issues, ensuring that all stakeholders are brought into play to drive further action.
