Chairperson of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Mrs Felicia Jessa, has called on religious and traditional leaders to lend their support towards addressing the rising incidences of gender-based violence in the country.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop for traditional and religious leaders on the prevention of violence against women and girls in Nigeria, Jessa decried the increasing cases of gender-based violence.

She noted that many women are dying in silence and that the influence of traditional and religious leaders is pivotal in driving positive change and fostering a society with equality and respect.

Jessa stressed the need to address social norms and harmful practices that exacerbate gender-based violence.

She observed that traditional and religious leaders can play a significant role in ending gender-based violence against women and girls in the country, adding that their leadership is indispensable in advancing gender equality and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

“Religious and traditional leaders should be catalysts for change and champions for a future where all women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.

“This meeting is aimed at creating awareness on the worrisome trend of gender-based violence and devising actions to be taken when confronted with the problem of gender-based violence,” she said.

Also, the Women Fellowship Leader of Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe Local Church Council of ECWA, Mrs Alheri Yusuf, said there was also the need for the boy-child to be taught good moral values on how to relate with the female gender and the need to shun violence.

She observed that the economic hardship in the country today is enough to create violence, hence the need to empower women to be economically independent.

The Chief of Lugbe, Mr Danlami Cheta, who described the event organised by WOWICAN, in collaboration with the United Nations Women, as a welcome development, attributed one of the causes of gender-based violence to early marriage and economic hardship in the country.

He noted that as a traditional leader, he had received reports of some gender-based violence, which were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP).

According to him, early marriage and ignorance are contributing factors to gender-based violence.

He stressed the need for religious and traditional leaders to sensitise their subjects to the dangers of gender-based violence

On her part, ECWA Women Leader Abigail Samuaila Kajile said the essence of the meeting was to sensitise the youths on gender-based violence.

She lamented that in recent times many young girls are raped while no severe punishment is meted on the perpetrators. Instead, society regards the survivors as irresponsible.