UN Women Nigeria Clarifies its Position on Political Fundraising and Use of Its Name and WPP Branding

UN Women Nigeria wishes to clarify its position regarding fundraising materials circulated by Gender & Development Action (GADA) in connection with preparations for Nigeria’s upcoming general elections.

UN Women Nigeria has become aware of materials associated with GADA that use the UN Women name and the branding/logo of the Women Political Participation (WPP) Working Group while soliciting financial contributions in support of individual women political candidates.

UN Women Nigeria categorically disassociates itself from these fundraising activities. Neither UN Women nor the Women Political Participation (WPP) Working Group has authorised the use of its name, logo, branding or visual identity for fundraising intended to benefit individual political candidates or electoral campaigns.

As part of the United Nations system, UN Women is bound by the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality. The United Nations and its entities do not endorse, campaign for, support or oppose political parties or individual candidates.

UN Women remains strongly committed to advancing women’s political participation, leadership and equal representation in governance. This work is undertaken through non-partisan and inclusive programmes that support women across political affiliations and does not constitute endorsement or support for any individual candidate, political party or electoral campaign.

UN Women Nigeria is concerned that the use of its name and the WPP Working Group branding alongside fundraising appeals could create the misleading impression that UN Women, the United Nations or the WPP Working Group endorses, sponsors or supports the fundraising initiative or the political candidates associated with it.

UN Women Nigeria therefore wishes to make clear that:

• UN Women Nigeria does not endorse any individual political candidate or political party.

• UN Women Nigeria does not solicit, sponsor or facilitate fundraising for political candidates or electoral campaigns.

• The Women Political Participation (WPP) Working Group does not authorise the use of its branding for political fundraising.

• GADA’s fundraising activities referred to above are not endorsed, sponsored or supported by UN Women or the WPP Working Group.

• The UN Women name, logo and visual identity, as well as the branding associated with the WPP Working Group, should not be used in a manner that implies UN endorsement of political fundraising or electoral campaigning.

UN Women Nigeria has formally communicated its concerns to Gender & Development Action (GADA) and requested that the organisation cease and desist from using the UN Women name, logo, branding or WPP-associated visual identity in relation to political fundraising; remove the relevant materials from online and offline platforms; and issue a clarification that neither UN Women nor the WPP Working Group endorsed, sponsored or supported the fundraising initiative.

UN Women Nigeria values its partnerships with organisations working to advance women’s political participation in Nigeria, including GADA and other civil society partners. However, such partnerships must operate within the principles of impartiality, independence and political neutrality that govern the work of the United Nations.

UN Women remains committed to supporting an enabling environment in which all women, regardless of political affiliation, can participate meaningfully and equally in political and public life. The Organisation will continue to work with government, civil society, women leaders, political stakeholders and other partners to advance women’s political participation in a non-partisan, inclusive and rights-based manner.

For the avoidance of doubt, the use of the UN Women name, logo or WPP Working Group branding in connection with political fundraising should not be interpreted as an endorsement, sponsorship or support by UN Women, the United Nations or the WPP Working Group.

_____________________________________Media Inquiries:

Anthony Abu, anthony.abu@unwomen.org, +234 803 634 3383 Or Oluoma Ali, oluoma.ali@unwomen.org +234 808 604 5863

Social Media: Follow @unwomenNG on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Source: UN Women in Nigeria