The United Nations has urged stakeholders to recommit to advancing gender equality to combat gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria and beyond.
This call was made during a gathering of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) convened by UN Women. The aim was to bolster partnerships, advocate for collective actions, and raise awareness about the imperative of increased investment in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 and addressing violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
Gender-based violence remains a pervasive and deeply entrenched issue, affecting women and girls across all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life, thereby depriving them of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
At the event, Ms. Vanessa Phala, Acting UN Resident Coordinator to Nigeria and Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), emphasised that GBV is a violation of human rights, a hindrance to development, and a threat to peace and security. She stressed the importance of synergy and coordinated efforts to curb this menace.
Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, highlighted data from the Mirabel Centre in Lagos showing that a significant percentage of reported sexual assault cases between 2013 and 2019 involved children. She underscored the need for intensified efforts to address GBV, especially in light of Nigeria’s low representation of women in politics.
The Director of Women Development at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Funke Ladipo, emphasised the crucial role of women’s economic empowerment in combating GBV. She noted that economic empowerment gives women the confidence to resist violence and contribute positively to society.
Representing civil society organisations, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Joy Ezeilo, called for comprehensive support and full inclusion of women in all spheres of society. She stated the importance of capacity building for women’s groups and the need to harness women’s diverse experiences as a political asset.
The gathering is part of the UN Women – Ford Foundation project titled “Traditional and Cultural Leaders for Ending GBV by Advancing Advocacy, Policy, and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa – LEAP.” The initiative aims to engage traditional and religious leaders as catalysts for social change to dismantle harmful practices and transform cultural norms perpetuating violence and discrimination against women and girls.