Despite several interventions by governments and various partners at all levels, the prevalence of sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and discrimination against women persist.

In Nigeria, about 30 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 49 has been victim of violence and discrimination, which have compromised their health.

These, among others, were the views expressed at the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) forum in Jos, Plateau State, attended by traditional and religious leaders across the state.

Efforts to prevent GBV have been hampered by lack of coordination among key players, inadequate implementation of legal frameworks and entrenched gender discriminatory norms, the forum noted

Civil Society Organisation (CSO) executive, Gad Shamaki, who was the guest speaker, said several harmful practices continue to thrive in some societies due to religious and conventional beliefs, involving gender preference, child labour, inheritance, and female genital mutilation among other things.

Shamaki urged traditional and religious leaders to domesticate the law previously signed by former Governor Simon Lalong on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP).

The leaders were also asked to promote the new law and its implications in their respective communities in the interest of peace and security of all citizens.