By Justina Auta
Some stakeholders have called for the need to prioritse marginalised women and girls to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), as well as harmful traditional practices in the country.
They made the appeal at a Flashlight Action on Girls’ Safety (FLAGS) 16 days of activism 2021, to end GBV on Thursday in Abuja.
Adetayo Erinle, the Executive Director, Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF), said the high record of GBV cases necessitated the need for all stakeholders to collaborate on ending the scourge, as well as ensure the offenders are prosecuted.
According to her, the 2021 global theme, “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women and Girls Now!” was a call to amplify actions and voices to end GBV.
“We advocate for inclusive, comprehensive and long-term strategies, programmes and resources to prevent and eliminate all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls in public and private spaces prioritising the most marginalised women and girls.
“Amplify the success stories demonstrating that VAWG is preventable by showcasing effective strategies and interventions to inspire all actors to scale up what works.
“Create awareness to health workers and public on the GBV referrals pathways.
“Engage stakeholders to take ‘Do No Harm Pledge’ and make commitment towards reporting Cases of GBV,” she said.
She revealed that the NGO will be executing the FLAGS project sponsored by the UN Trust Fund on ending VAWG to support 750 marginalised adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19 in 10 communities of the FCT, Nasarawa and Niger states.
She explained that the girls would be better informed on GBV and linked to multi-sectoral response services in the COVID-19 context.
“FLAGS will create safe spaces in the community for learning facilitated by Amintacces’ (teacher) and link survivors of Gender-Based Violence to a virtual case management hub coordinated by Mama-yara (Health officer) in the Primary Health-Care Centres in the communities working with FIDA and Police to achieve the project outcomes.
“We will work with the community leaders and all the different groups in the community (men, women, boys and girls) to create robust awareness on GBV and provide support for the prevention and response as well as create enabling environment for marginalised adolescent girls to thrive,” according to her.
Maryam Shuiabu, Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, stressed the need for all stakeholders to join government in ending GBV.
Shuiabu also encouraged parents and community members to speak out and support in ensuring such cases are reported and perpetrators prosecuted to serve as deterent to others.
Also, Funmi Kolanole, the Gender Desk Officer, FCT Police Command, said the16 days of activism to end GBV was a clarion call for all stakeholders to join in the fight and ensure all cases are not withdrawn but pursued to the latter.
“This programme shows how important the fight against this pandemic of Sexual Gender Based offence is in the heart of everyone across the globe.
“All hands must be on deck to end violence against women and girls, and with our efforts together we will kick off VAWG in Nigeria,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Binite Alero, Board Member, Talitha Cumi Foundation, said more advocacy on GBV will aide in ending the practice and encourage people to speak out.
”It is another opportunity for us all to shout out, speak out against violence against women suffering in the hands of the opposite gender.
“Wherever you are, whatever you do that little bit you can do to protect that young woman, that old woman, that middle aged woman from the hands of those who seek to oppress her through gender violence,” she said.
On his part, Dr Sunday Goji, the Director Primary Health Centre (PHC), Bwari Area Counci, commended the organisation for their support to the council, calling on law enforcement agencies to be proactive in handling GBV.
“Because most of the time, the survivors do not have access to health facilities for prompt examination and treatment because some of those evidences needed to prosecute the offenders are not available.
“Even the male, boys, are also affected. There are abuse of young boys in the society that are been carried, it goes on, but we don’t know because there is denial especially at the community level,” he said.
