In a demonstration of solidarity, hundreds of women, on Monday, gathered in Abuja to demand decisive action against the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria. 

The march was organized by UN Women in partnership with the National Assembly of Nigeria as part of activities to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in the country.

The participants carried placards with inscriptions such as “No Tolerance to Rape, Sexual Violence, Child Sexual Abuse, and Sex Trafficking,” “No one has the right to control your body without your consent,” and “Say no to coercion, harassment, and exploitation,” among others.

Addressing journalists during the walk, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara,  who led the event, called for urgent action to combat GBV, not just during the 16 Days of Activism but continuously.

The event featured a solidarity walk involving over 1,000 participants, including policymakers, civil society organizations, activists, and members of the public. The march commenced from the House of Representatives Wing of the National Assembly and concluded at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Ogbara emphasized that the walk was intended to amplify the call for stronger legislative action and societal commitment to address the pervasive issue of GBV in Nigeria.

Ogbara said: “Our studies indicate that one in three women globally are victims of gender-based violence in Nigeria. Reports at the National Demographic and Health Survey reveal that 30% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence with many suffering abuse at the hands of intimate partners.”

She also appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, to ensure justice for victims of GBV at police stations nationwide.

She added, “The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Right Honorable Tajudeen Abbas and Right Honorable Benjamin Kalu, has united in one voice to say there is no excuse for violence against our women and girls. They are our mothers, daughters, and family. 

“They nurture us. Why should we violate them? We are saying no to lecturers violating students, that they will fail them if they do not yield. We are saying no to bosses at work for violating their secretaries, their staff, that if they do not yield, they will sack them. We are saying no to all forms of violence against our children and our girls. Fathers raping daughters, uncles raping children, boys raping girls.”

Receiving the women’s petition, IGP Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to combating GBV.

Egbetokun said: “As we join the international community in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, this occasion serves as a reminder that eradicating GBV is a collective effort. It is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement but of every individual in society.”

He acknowledged the persistent abuse of women and children across Africa, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful traditional practices like genital mutilation.

He added, “We must all come together and take action to eradicate these unacceptable realities in our communities. Since 2006, the Nigerian Police Force has implemented a gender policy that aligns with global frameworks, and we remain committed to this policy to this day.”

Egbetokun assured the women that their petition would be thoroughly reviewed and addressed.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, noted that, according to reports, a woman dies from violence every ten minutes.

He pledged that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, would actively participate in the upcoming National Action Plan Against Violence Toward Women.

He said: “This year’s programme came at a time that all over the world, women are crying. Women are angry. Women are frustrated. Because this year the United Nations has issued a damn report that for every ten minutes, a woman is being killed across the world.

 “This is an unacceptable trend, this is an unforgivable trend. We in the parliament must unite more than ever before with relevant authorities, particularly, law enforcement in ensuring that we curb this dangerous trend to the barest minimum. 

“I want to say it categorically clear here that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all forms of violence against women and girls are drastically reduced if not completely eliminated in the very near future.”