By Thompson Yamput
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Professional Women Council on Saturday called for more stringent measures in stemming the menace of Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Kogi
Hajiya Rekiya Onaivo-Sanni, Kogi coordinator of the council, made the call during a media parley in celebration of the Orange World 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls in Lokoja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was to mark the Orange and world 16 days of activism against gender based violence against women and girls is between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10.
Onaivo-Sanni said: “a situation where a total of 2,203 GBV cases have been reported in Kogi in 2023 based on the NGBV Data Situation Room and Dashboard for Prevention and Response to GBV in Nigeria, is unacceptable.’
“this alarming figure is enough for both federal and state governments as well as spirited organisations to take more actions against perpetrators to serve as deterrent.
“As a concerned council, we expect government to vigorously invest in the eradication of Gender Based Violence in the Nigerian society for the good of women, ” she said..
The state coordinator, who spoke on the theme: “Policy Advocacy, A Panacea for the Elimination of Gender Based Violence in Kogi”, described the theme as apt and timely.
She assured that the Council would work tirelessly toward promulgation of right policies that would mitigate the noticeable gaps that are the causes of GBV in Kogi
The coordinator, who is also the Managing Director (MD): of Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) expressed worry that 35 per cent of GBV victims are women.
“It’s unfortunate that the menace occurred everywhere, in workplaces, churches, market and at homes, which demands all hands to be on deck to stamp out the GBV from the society, ” she said.
She, however, commended Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for his contribution in the fight against the pandemic in the state through the signing of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP) law which she disclosed would soon be domesticated.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Fatima Buba, described GBV as a pandemic that deserves stringent measures to stem.
Buba, who was represented by a Senior Director in the ministry, Mrs Josephine Motulayo-Babajide, expressed optimism that the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law would help eradicate gender violence in the state.
“As it’s, a lot needed to be be done to stem the tide through Gender Responsive Budgeting, Advocacy, funding and unity amongst the stakeholders towards multi sectoral approaches to influence activities that would address GBV, ” she said.
Barr. Lilian Okolo, Kogi Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyer’s (FIDA), in her presentation on the Overview of Gender Based Violence in Nigeria, said that the fight against GBV requires all hands to be on deck irrespective of class, religion and ethnicity.
Okolo noted that perpetrators of GBV were people who wield power,hence the need for stringent laws and policies as panacea in the fight against the menace.
While noting power imbalance as one of the causes of GBV, Okolo said that it could be emotional, economic, psychological, Sexual, physical, which could come in subtle form. (NAN)
