The All Progressives Congress (APC) Professional Women Council has disclosed that the World Health Organization statistics shows that 35% of people mostly affected by GBV are women.
They described the rising cases of Gender based violence in the society as unacceptable, pointing out that it is a pandemic that must be fought mult-isectorally using workable policies.
Hajia Rekiya Onaivo Sanni, State Coordinator of APC Professional Women Council, who made the disclosure at a Media Parley as part of the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, disclosed that the statistics shows that 35% of people mostly affected by GBV are women.
Hajiya Onaivi described this year’s theme: Policy Advocacy, A Panacea for the Elimination of Gender Based Violence in Kogi State as very important, saying it could not have come at a better time than now.
GBV, she explained, happens everywhere, in workplaces, churches, markets, at homes, calling for all hands to be on deck.
The State Coordinator said the APC Professional Women Council is therefore looking forward to having cross-cutting policies on how to mitigate the noticed gaps identified as causes for GBV in the State.
While pointing out that the time for women to collectively rise up to talk about the issues of GBV as it affects women and girls remains necessary, reasons why all hands must be on deck to stem the rising pandemic.
The State Coordinator says the place of policy in fighting GBV cannot be overemphasized, appreciated by men who are now beginning to recognize the negative impact of GBV.
In her remarks at the occasion, the Kogi State Commissioner For Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba, described GBV as a pandemic, adding that the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law would help check GBV.
While pointing out that more needs to be done in stemming GBV, advocated Gender Responsive Budgeting, Advocacy, funding, she called for unity amongst the stakeholders towards multi sectoral approaches to influence activities that would stem the tide against GBV.
In a presentation on the Overview of GBV in Nigeria by Barr. Ajums Lilian Okolo, Chairperson of FIDA, stated that the fight against GBV requires all hands to be on deck, noting that Gender refers to the male and female.
She described perpetrators to GBV as people who wield power, described the fight against GBV as a fight for all, adding that the need to strengthen policies as a panacea remains sacrosanct in the fight against GBV.
Barr. Lilian lamented that one in every three women experience GBV, ascribing it to societal factors that cut across all strata of the society.
She listed power imbalance as causes of GBV, saying it could be emotional, economic, psychological, Sexual, physical. She said it can also come in subtle forms, adding that efforts at reforms have become expedient.
She advocated a multi sectoral approach to curbing GBV, describing sexual offences as one that is on the rise and requires legal reforms, community engagement.
Other aspects of GBV, she added, is early marriages, female genital mutilation, said government, CSOs, implementing multi sectoral approaches and strategies to stem the tide of GBV using the VAPP Law.
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