2026 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Cislac Calls For Transformative Gender Reforms, Women’s Rights In Nigeria

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) is calling for transformative reforms in laws, policies, and institutional practices to accelerate the development, protection, and full participation of women and girls in Nigeria, advising that recent development indicate a troubling backsliding on gains previously achieved in advancing women’s rights and inclusion.

In a statement by the Executive Director of CISLAC, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation noted the progress made over the years in raising awareness on gender equality, structural inequalities, discrimination, and limited representation in decision-making spaces continue to undermine the full participation of women in Nigeria’s democratic and development processes.

According to CISLAC, the absence of strong affirmative action measures within political party structures continues to restrict women’s access to elective and appointive positions, thereby limiting their influence in shaping public policies and governance..

While recognising the resilience and contributions of Nigerian women across sectors including governance, business, education, healthcare, and community leadership, CISLAC stressed that greater institutional commitment is required to dismantle systemic barriers that continue to limit women’s advancement.