…vows to end gender-based violence through legislation
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas has reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
The Speaker stated this at a historic march to commemorate the commencement of the 2024, 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence organized by the House of Representatives to raise awareness and galvanize action against gender-based violence.
Naijablitznews.com reports that the march which had members of Civil Society Organisations, media, women and youth groups, lawmakers among others, was led by Speaker Abbas, symbolising the lawmakers dedication to fostering a safer and more inclusive society, free from violence and discrimination.
In his remarks, Speaker Abbas, decried the increasing rate of violence against women worldwide, and described it as an unacceptable and unforgivable trend.
According to him, a recent report by the United Nations revealed that a woman dies from violence every ten minutes; he noted that the global outcry and frustration from women necessitates urgent action to address the crisis.
He said, “This year’s programme comes at a time when women across the world are crying, angry, and frustrated,” Abbas said. “According to the United Nations, a woman is killed every ten minutes due to violence. This is an unacceptable and unforgivable trend.”
The Speaker who stressed the critical role of the legislature in tackling the issue, called for collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities to reverse the dire situation.
“We in the parliament must unite more than ever with relevant authorities, particularly law enforcement, to curb this dangerous trend to the barest minimum,” Abbas stated.
“I want to categorically assure Nigerians that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to drastically reduce, if not completely eliminate, all forms of violence against women and girls in the very near future”, he said.
He therefore pledged that the National Assembly, in particularly the House will actively engage in the forthcoming National Action Plan Against Violence on Women, set to be unveiled soon.
“We will send our representatives and actively participate in ensuring the enactment of robust policies aimed at significantly reducing all forms of violence against women, children, and girls,” Abbas added.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara said one in three women globally are victims of gender-based violence.
She called on security agencies to make efforts to see that victims of gender-based violence get justice whenever they report their cases.
She said, “We want to get justice. We want to get justice. We are saying no to lecturers violating students that they will fail them if they do not yielding in. We say no to bosses at work for violating their secretaries, their staff that if they do not yield in they are sacked. We say no all forms of violence against our children, our girls. Fathers raping daughters. Uncles raping children. Boys raping girls.”
Rep. Ogbara led the march to the office of the Inspector General of Police, where she presented a petition urging swift justice for victims of gender-based violence.
“We are here this morning to submit a petition calling for immediate intervention, thorough investigation, and prompt prosecution of cases related to gender-based violence. We urge the Inspector General of Police to take decisive action, especially as we mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who received the petition pledged to thoroughly examine and implement the recommendations contained in a petition he personally received.
The IGP emphasized the need for collective action in tackling gender-based violence.
“This occasion serves as a powerful reminder that eradicating gender-based violence across the globe requires a unified effort. It cannot be achieved by law enforcement agents or actions alone. It is a shared responsibility that calls for the active involvement of every one of us,” he stated.
Recognizing the urgent need for collective action, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stressed the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to significantly reduce gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Olawande reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling this pervasive issue.
“Through coordinated efforts and partnerships among ministries and agencies, we can achieve a drastic reduction in cases of gender-based violence and create a safer environment for women and girls,” he stated.
The global campaign of the 2024 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is titled: “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”, the Minister stressed the need to accelerate progress toward gender equality as the world approaches the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
This year’s activism seeks to galvanize stakeholders, governments, civil society organizations, and individuals, to take decisive steps to eradicate violence and ensure justice for survivors.
Gender-based violence remains a devastating reality for women and girls, impacting countless lives and communities across the globe.