By Ibironke Ariyo
An NGO, Public Awareness on Rights and Rehabilitation of Vulnerable Persons Initiative (PAR-RVPI), has called for collective efforts among stakeholders to tackle sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
The Executive Director and Founder of PAR-RVPI, Mrs. Ogechi Ogu, made this call in a statement commemorating the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Abuja on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024 and the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with the theme “Towards Beijing +30: united to end violence against women and girls” stop.
Ogu said despite efforts to reduce gender-based violence, the threat continues to increase.
He said terrorists and bandits constantly rape women and girls.
She cited a UN Women report that states that 140 women and girls around the world will lose their lives every day by 2023 at the hands of their partners or close family members.
“A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women also found that 60% of homicides against women are committed by an intimate partner or other family member.
“The report goes on to state that by 2023, 85,000 women and girls will have been intentionally killed around the world. 60% of these murders, or 51,000, were committed by an intimate partner or other family member.
“Now is the time for action as we work together to end violence against women and girls and the culture of impunity that encourages perpetrators, and establish a strong system of accountability for violations of women and girls’ rights,” he said.
He said as Nigeria joins the international community to commemorate the fifth day of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the call to action becomes increasingly urgent.
“This is particularly necessary given the increasing cases of extreme violence against women resulting in their death.
“Women and girls are constantly raped and regularly victims of terrorism, banditry and other forms of social conflict,” he said.
Ogu appealed to all stakeholders to work together to combat all practices that promote violence against women, stressing that it is time to act.
He also called for cooperation between governments at all levels and civil society to establish and strengthen mechanisms to address the threat.
“We demand that ex post measures be taken and that the general public be sensitized on the need to collectively protect our women.”
“Activists cannot win this fight against gender-based violence alone. We must take strategic steps to educate, educate and give voice to potential victims of violence.
“There must be collaboration between governments at all levels and civil society to create and strengthen mechanisms to address this threat from the outset.”
“It is time to work with traditional leaders and religious institutions to challenge and dismantle stereotypes, discrimination and stigma that foster violence against women. »
“It is now time to jointly support and strengthen legal reform mechanisms that can promote the inclusion of women in decision-making processes and adequately empower them and free them from vulnerable positions,” she said.
She argued that women should be adequately represented in national and state parliaments.
She called on governments at all levels to empower women economically and ensure that laws are not only enacted to protect women’s rights but also implemented effectively and efficiently.
“The general public and traditional religious and educational institutions must participate in campaigns against gender-based violence and commit to reporting cases and providing individual and community support to survivors,” he said.
“She said survivors and victims should overcome stigma, report rape and denounce perpetrators,” she said.
