By Justina Auta
Stakeholders have advocated for a recommitment from the government and other partners to promote human rights and end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
This call was made during the “Voices Unveiled” event, which aimed to promote religious freedom and end GBV.
The event was organised by Empower Women Media, Civitas Auxillium Foundation (CAF), Midpoint International Development Initiative (MIDI), and others, with sponsorship from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja on Wednesday.
Dorothea Wenzel from the German Embassy emphasised the need to invest in citizens’ safety and dignity to end GBV injustices, which affected millions of women and girls worldwide.
Wenzel noted that Germany advocated for equality abroad and advanced women’s dignity through programmes like Stand to End Rape (STER Initiative) and improved women’s participation in politics.
“This demonstrates our commitment to advocating for women in decision-making positions, which will ultimately influence policies on subjects like Gender-Based Violence.
“We will continue to drive systemic change by collaborating with local partners to develop internal expertise on gender matters and promote policies that protect women and girls globally.
“We urge all partners, governments, and stakeholders to invest in GBV prevention, support survivors, and work together to create a future free of violence where women and girls can thrive with dignity and safety.”
Also, the Country Coordinator of the Live What You Believe (LWY) project under Empower Women Media, Mr Felix Samari stated that the “Voices Unveiled” event aimed to create awareness and understand the concept of freedom of religion.
He added it also aimed to promote the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
“We want everyone to reflect on the dangers of GBV, and this event is unique because we’re examining it from the perspective of freedom of religion.
“We’re exploring how religious freedom impacts gender tolerance and accommodation.”
The Chief Operations Officer of Civitas Auxillium Foundation (CAF), Mrs Elizabeth Duile noted the prevalence of violence against women and girls, particularly those in highly volatile areas forced to reside in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
“GBV is prevalent among this group, and in spite of their vulnerability, they face increased vulnerability due to the acts committed against them.”
Mr Chahu Joshua-Chahu, representing Midpoint International Development Initiative (MIDI), expressed eagerness to assist the helpless and support marginalised and underserved communities in addressing their challenges and delivering practical development solutions to combat GBV.
A lecturer at the University of Abuja, Dr Ahmad Dahiru stressed the need to respect and promote everyone’s rights and impact positive character re-orientation to address GBV and religious intolerance.
The event featured various activities, including film screenings, panel discussions, dance presentations, poetry slams, and spoken word competitions.
