Stakeholders have lamented that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) negates the three fundamental principles of freedom, justice and peace globally.
United Nations (UN) Women, in partnership with Ford Foundation, disclosed this, yesterday, in Lagos, during the launch of LEAP Project.
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria, Beatrice Eyong, said that globally, 736 million women had been subjected to physical and, or, sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life time, adding that one in three Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by the age of 15.
According to her, United Nations Universal Human Rights Declaration adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, recognises the inherent dignity, equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
Vice President, Ford Foundation, Hilary Pennington, stressed the need for religious and traditional leaders to collaborate towards elimination of GBV.
Also, Regional Director, Ford Foundation, Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, who urged religious and cultural leaders to play more active role in ending GBV, said they recognise the influence of culture and religion in shaping identities and choices.
Eyong explained that UN Women has embarked on a three-year program titled Traditional and Cultural Leaders for Ending GBV by Advancing Advocacy, Policy and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa (LEAP). The project is a flagship program on male engagement, to put in place policies and practices to address gender-based discrimination and combat gender stereotypes.
“The LEAP project recognizes the importance of cultural and faith leaders in preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV). The Project further leverages the esteemed leaders’ extensive knowledge and experiences in their respective jurisdictions to promote an understanding of customs and doctrine denouncing GBV,” she said.
