NGO calls for collective effort to end Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

By Florence Kalu 

The Inner Wheel District 911, Nigeria, has urged teenagers to report and speak out against gender-based violence (GBV) and abuse.

The District’s Chairman, Mrs Omolola Fakeye, made the appeal on Wednesday at a lecture in Lagos, marking the 16 Days of Activism to End GBV, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to eliminate violence.

Fakeye, also the Director of Administration, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), explained that the club via the programme, supported the “Unite” & Orange The World Initiatives by United Nations (UN) Women to eliminate all forms of GBV.

She said that elimination of GBV required a collective efforts of all stakeholders including the parents, government, communities, students, teachers and the society at large.

Cross Section of 600 Students from 12 Secondary Schools in Lagos Educational Division IV @ Orange the World Awareness Talk

According to her, a total of 12 secondary schools comprising about 600 students are participating in the lecture, saying that the objective is to sensitise the teenagers on GBV.

Fakeye expressed concern that many women and girls were being subjugated in the society, as the male gender were treated with sense of superiority over their female counterparts.

She, however, admitted that the Federal and Lagos State Government had done a lot toward addressing GBV, stressed the need for full implementation of laws and legal backings to protect girls and women in the society.

“We realised over the years that we care so much for the male child over the female child, leading to increased gender violence/discrimination.

“The essence of the lecture is to sensitise the young ones that GBV is evil, so that when they see it at home, in school or among their peers; they will be able to say no to it.

“You don’t have to be the one abused; if you know or see someone that have been abused, let’s endeavour to report and help the person.

“Always watch out for your neighbours and when you see something, say something.

“Let the government step up efforts to implement the legal backings to protect girls and women against gender violence,” Fakeye said.

The National Representative, Inner Wheel Nigeria, Mrs Funmi Ogunsi, called for total overhauling of the judicial system to guarantee timely and due justice to gender violence cases in the country.

Funmi decried the length of time it usually took for the wheel of justice to be rolled over gender violence cases in Nigeria, saying that this increased GBV issues and making it difficult for people to believe there could be justice for victims.

Ogunsi, who claimed that the justice system contributed to GBV, urged the Court to live up to expectations and ensure justices were passed at the right time.

According to her, there should be more commitment toward enforcement of sanctions and deterrents on GBV.

She also urged the students, particularly the girls to protect their dignity by maintaining decent dressing at all times, saying that indecent dressing contributed to GBV, specially sexual abuse.

“Our justice system contributes to GBV, because justice delayed is justice denied. The laws are there, but the length of time it takes for justice to be given over offences committed.

“Why must it take up to five or 10 years to bring a person who defiled a female child to court. So, let the justice system be overhauled to enable due justice to gender violence cases in the country”.

Speaking, the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, Lagos State Police Command, ACP Toyin Kazeem, urged the students to always report gender violence cases to the Unit for onward investigations and sanctions.

Kazeem, also the guest speaker at the event, explained efforts of the police in the state toward elimination of gender violence, stressing the need for the society including the young ones (teenagers) to assist with useful information.

She educated the students on the indicators and risk factors of GBV, how to detect them and ways to prevent gender violence.