Stakeholders seek end to violence against girls, women

dimeji akinloye

October 18, 2016 3:02 AM

The Convener of the prog. said violence against women and girls is one of the most common abuses of human rights.

Stakeholders seek end to violence against girls, women

Stakeholders at an international conference on combating violence against women and

The Convener of the programme, Mrs Adepoju Aderogba-Oti, said on Monday that it was important to continue with the advocacy until all the 36 states in Nigeria domesticate the violence against persons prohibited law.

“Until the vulnerable know their rights, until victims and survivors get justice, until perpetrators are adequately punished and until all forms of violence come to an end in Nigeria and indeed in the world,” she said.

According to her, violence against women and girls is one of the most common abuses of human rights and is gradually becoming a global epidemic.

She said that the foundation envisages a society where girls can grow up to be educated, informed, and able to make decisions for their lives and contribute meaningfully to the society.

The wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, said violence against women does a lot of detriment to the development of the nation.

Ajimobi, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the governor on Due Process, Mrs Rose Oyedele, called for continuous awareness until violence against women is finally eradicated in the society.

Also, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, represented by her media assistant, Mr Abdulraham Balogun, said that “a sound girlhood can only be assured of a sound womanhood”.

Dabiri-Eruwa said that in recent times the prevalence of violence against women had risen with incidents of domestic abuses and rape on the increase.

She said that the problem has exposed the deficiency of social institutions such as the family, law enforcement agencies and other relevant stakeholders in tackling the unsettling reality.

“Even more saddening is the example close to us which has created an unpleasant situation in the condition of the girl-child in Nigeria and the world.

“The abduction of the Chibok school girls by Boko Haram, for which President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is poised to secure their release.”

She, however, said that adequate training and capacity building programmes with appropriate legislation would check the tide considerably as the scope of protection and safety net for the girl-child and women must be seen to be robust and adequate.

The conference was organised by an NGO, Global Youth Leadership and Girl-Child Foundation in collaboration with Lead City University, Ibadan.

Participants at the conference include researchers, students in tertiary and secondary schools, and other stakeholders with girl-child concerns.

dimeji akinloye