MS Njeri Karuru, UN Women Programme Manager on Women Peace and Security says it is important for legislators to be better informed on gender issues to enable them to pass appropriate legislations.

Karuru said this in Abuja on Friday during a capacity building workshop for Adamawa Legislators on Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill.

She said the bill was to prohibit all forms of discrimination against any person in accordance with Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.

Karuru added that the section prohibits all forms of discrimination due to gender, age and disability through spoken words, acts, rules, customs and practices by any person or institution.

She said that the meeting would enable the legislators make an informed decision in the State Assembly.

“The most important thing is consultations within the religious groups, traditional rulers and politicians.

“I think there are a lot of consultations this time around, especially from the grassroots.

“This has given all stakeholders the opportunity to make their input. So this time around, I believe the bill will be passed in Adamawa State,’’ Karuru said.

She said Adamawa was selected because of the interest of the state governor on the bill.

Hon. Sodom Daniel, the Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs, Adamawa said the bill had suffered setbacks in the state.

Daniel said the capacity building was to brainstorm on the way forward and how the bill would be passed into law for the development of women and children in the state.

She said from the response in the meeting, it showed that the legislators are gender friendly.

“I believe that with the support of the governor the bill will scale through.

“Though there are grey areas, from the contributions made so far we will work out how to tackle the grey areas because of the good people of Adamawa State.

“I will continue to lobby so that my colleagues will support us so that the bill can be passed into Law in Adamawa State.’’