The Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), Dr Haruna Okai, has called for stronger commitment to tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), related abuses, and increased investment in family planning.
Okai made the call in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Systemic Investment Plan (SIP) and “Paint It Loud” programme on Friday in Abuja. The event is part of the activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV.
He said PPFN takes the campaign seriously, noting that cultural norms that violate the rights of women and girls must be stopped.
According to him, it is worrying that GBV remains widespread in the country, and sustained collaboration is required to eradicate it.
He stressed that the advocacy should continue beyond the 16 Days of Activism, as many forms of violence occur daily across communities.
“We receive GBV cases and collaborate with relevant authorities. In some cases, we visit victims in their homes to provide counseling and help resolve issues.
“The Federal Government is doing well. We must commend the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which addresses several issues, including female genital mutilation, although some states are yet to adopt it.
“We continue to advocate for stronger commitment and implementation at the sub-national level. These harmful practices are rooted in culture, and to address them, we need to build the capacity of counselors, service providers and communities.
“We must also close the reporting gap because many violations go unreported. The weak justice system, which often gives lighter sentences to perpetrators, must also be addressed,” Okai said.
He added that achieving zero maternal mortality, eliminating GBV and addressing related challenges require faster progress, noting that the current pace is too slow.
According to him, several measures must be in place to achieve this.
“Education is key. We need to provide quality sexual and reproductive health education for girls. We all see what is happening in the country today.
“The best investment for achieving the FP2030 goals is investment in family planning. With this, families can plan the number of children they want and avoid raising children who may grow up without proper support and become susceptible to crime or violence,” he said.
Also speaking, Ms Sadiya Yakubu, PPFN’s Desk Officer on GBV, reiterated the call for governments, civil society organizations, private sector actors and stakeholders to intensify awareness on GBV.
She said the event aimed to discuss solutions to GBV, including digital forms of abuse such as online bullying, cyberstalking and other forms of violence occurring in the digital space.
The event attracted stakeholders from the media, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, youth groups and others.
