Foundation raises alarm on how insecurity fuels domestic violence in the North

In a statement on Tuesday, Zamani-Henry said the growing spate of banditry, kidnapping for ransom as well as rising cases of gender-based violence have been repeatedly linked to the continued shrinking of economic resources, opportunities, and the struggle for survival.

She worried that despite overwhelming data showing women and children being the most affected by the negative impacts of all the developmental challenges bedevilling the country, the society has not done enough to assuage their pains.

According to her, the number of out-of-school children in the country, particularly from the Northern region, has continued to skyrocket, adding this is so because of the failure to decisively bring the protracted deadly insecurity and economic crisis to an end.

She said the growing cases of maternal mortality in the country are worse in the North because of the government’s investment in quality, accessible and affordable public healthcare institutions for the masses.

She said, “For instance, in our three decades of field intervention, we have repeatedly come face-to-face with everyday experiences of women and children in the core North. Poverty, hunger, sickness, fear, and death are the regular occurrence.

“And these are innocent, aspirational but vulnerable people whom the society has now conditioned to only think of survival and safety, instead of chasing their dreams like any other person. These people are mostly women, children, Persons with Disabilities, Aged, and Orphans.”

Zamani-Henry said there is a need for a permanent and long-term solution beyond politics, adding that the issues have been left unattended for so long a time, hence they have festered,

On the problems of domestic violence, gender-based violence, and economic impoverishment of women and girl children among others, Zamani-Henry said the time for all the stakeholders to work together in restoring the dignity of Nigerian womanhood is now.

She said some of the challenges are going to be spotlighted at her organisation’s Annual Women’s Conference slated for March in Kaduna, where over 200 women would be converged to brainstorm, network, trained, and empowered on the best approach to facing some of the problems headlong.

“Education is a fundamental human right of all, so is safety and security, ditto for economic well-being and social welfare. As we are making our modest contribution to Zamani Foundation, focusing on the most underserved, there is a need for the government and all other stakeholders to demonstrate serious commitment to cutting off the fielders fueling the social problems,” she suggested.

“It is time for us to put an end to domestic and gender-based violence. Love is stronger than hate. There is nothing love can not do, just as there is no wound that love can not heal. It’s time for everyone to embrace love and shun violence. Say no to domestic violence, financial violence, emotional violence, extramarital affairs; and any other acts that constitute dangers to your spouse or the children.”

Zamani Foundation was established 30 years ago as a not-for-profit, non-governmental, and non-religious interventionist programme through advocacy to institutionalise global best practices in political, legal, religious, and traditional practices as part of efforts to enhance human rights and standards of living of ordinary and vulnerable members of the society.