WARDC tells govt to priortise protection of women, girls

A UN report reveals that every 10 minutes, a woman is killed by a family member or intimate partner. In Nigeria, over 35 percent of women and girls have faced abuse of various forms including sexual harassment, physical violence, and emotional abuse and Nigeria is 125th out of 146 countries on the 2024 Global Gender Gap.

Between 2020 and 2023, the National Dashboard recorded almost 28,000 cases of gender-based violence against women. These numbers call is to rise up to the charge. To this end, the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has called on governments at all levels to prioritise the protection of women and girls.

This is in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day 2024 which marks the end of 16 days of Activism on Violence Against Women with a national intervention to protect the rights of the Nigerian people, especially women and girls.

According to the founding director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, “we call on the federal government to pass the Gender Opportunities Bill into law. Since 2005, the Nigerian Senate had continued to vote out one of the most important bills in Nigeria’s history. The bill, which passed second reading at the 9th Assembly, requires accelerated progress into law.

“The five gender bills were also alarmingly voted out by the 9th National Assembly. These bills, seek to provide affirmative action for women in political parties and appointments, protect the indigenous rights of women in states, enshrine the rights of Nigerian women to grant citizenship by marriage, and secure special seats for women in the National Assembly. The time to act on these is now.

“We also call on state governments to create end Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) funds to cater to victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence within their states. This fund will ensure the training of first responders, create shelters, provide legal and psychosocial support for victims, and rehabilitation of survivors. Without an End SGBV Fund, we are afraid the fight against SGBV will be further slowed down.

“As we commemorate Human Rights Day 2024, we ring the bells again as a reminder that women’s rights are no less than human rights. All humans need their rights protected. These include the right to education, health, food, shelter, safety and security; as well as access to opportunities to thrive. All humans deserve this. Women deserve this,” Akiyode-Afolabi added.