Women’s Participation Forum: Voice, Information and Public Life
Event status: This is a planned, upcoming programme organized by Citizens Liberation Advocacy Initiative (CLAI). Participation is free. Final venue and access details must be confirmed on this event page before attendance.
About the forum
Citizens Liberation Advocacy Initiative (CLAI) plans to convene a Women’s Participation Forum focused on the practical conditions that help women take part confidently in civic and democratic life. The forum will bring together women of different ages and backgrounds for learning, listening, and problem-solving in a nonpartisan environment. Its purpose is not to tell participants what to think or whom to support, but to strengthen access to information and create space for women’s experiences to shape more inclusive civic engagement.
The discussion will consider barriers that can make participation difficult, including limited access to timely information, care responsibilities, transport and safety concerns, inaccessible meeting formats, online harassment, and the feeling that public conversations are not welcoming. Participants will be invited to examine these challenges without being pressured to disclose traumatic experiences or sensitive personal details. Facilitators will use clear ground rules on confidentiality, respectful language, and consent.
What participants can expect
The programme is expected to include a short civic-information briefing, moderated table conversations, and a practical planning exercise. Participants will explore how to verify an electoral or public-interest claim before sharing it, how to ask constructive questions at a community meeting, and how small peer networks can help reliable information travel further. A scenario-based activity will look at ways to respond when a woman’s contribution is dismissed or a discussion becomes hostile, with emphasis on safety and de-escalation.
The forum will also invite participants to identify changes that could make future CLAI activities easier to access. These might relate to timing, communication channels, childcare information, physical access, language, or online participation. Suggestions will be recorded as programme feedback, not as promises of immediate delivery. Any public summary will be anonymised and will avoid attributing personal comments without explicit permission.
Women voters, first-time participants, community educators, professionals, traders, students, artisans, caregivers, and women with disabilities are welcome to register. Prior advocacy experience is not required. The event will not host campaign activity, candidate promotion, or party recruitment.
Questions and contributions may be made in person or through the moderated online channel.
Participation and access
Participation is intended to be free. CLAI will confirm the Lagos venue only after basic access and suitability checks. Online joining details will be provided to confirmed registrants rather than posted publicly. Participants may request reasonable access or communication support during registration, and CLAI will state clearly which arrangements can be provided before the event. The latest venue, access, registration, and schedule information will be published through the official CLAI website and registered contact channels.