By Funmi Olasupo

Abuja—Ahead of the 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women CSW, in New York, the Federal Government has tasked women and experts on the push for sustainable development Post-2015 agenda at the session.

The session is slated for March 9-20, 2015.

This, it said, involved the advocacy for stand-alone-goal for gender equality and mainstreaming of gender consideration across all aspects of the sustainable development goals which will form the post-2015 Agenda.

Speaking at a One-day National Stakeholders’ Consultative Preparatory Meeting on the 59th Session of The UN CSW in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Zainab Maina, stated that the session would focus on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 20 years after its adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995.

She said the meeting was also expected to address current challenges affecting the implementation, achievement of gender equality as well as the empowerment of women in the last 20 years.

The Minister noted that increased women participation, visibility and involvement in politics and governance over the years were commendable.

“It has been a long 20 years and indeed years filled with incredible progress, not only for all women in the world but in particular for women in Nigeria.

“Since Beijing in 1995, we have in Nigeria seen increase women’s participation, visibility and involvement in politics and governance, in the private sector, in the economy and in the social media,” she said

Maina, who also  expressed worry over the incessant sexual and domestic violence against women, despite the declaration, said all women had a vital role to play in influencing the post-2015 development agenda.

“Even as we celebrate the progress, it is all glossy. There are still many challenges ahead. Violence against women including sexual and domestic violence continue to rise and women’s bodies continue to be used as battlefields in conflict.

She stated: “As women advocates and experts, we must continue to ensure that as we debate in various segments at New York, we push for a transformative sustainable development Post 2015 agenda.”