The executive governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong, has said Nigeria needs a re-orientation that targets the younger generation, especially boys, in order to put an end to violence against women and girls permanently.
Lalong recommended the ‘permanent solution’ to gender-based violence to stakeholders in his opening address at the fifth Voice of Women (VOW) Conference, organised by Women Radio 91.7 with the theme ‘Men’s Voices Against Gender-Based Violence’.
“For us to achieve a permanent solution to gender-based violence, we need a re-orientation that will target the younger generation. We must teach our boys to respect girls and also teach our girls to resist and speak out against any act of violence from a tender age. We must equally appeal to our faith leaders to preach love and respect for one another in upholding human dignity,” he said.
The governor noted that some women and girls were violated and molested by people who were sometimes friends and family members, and on other occasions, the violation was perpetrated by leaders who are supposed to protect them.
“This is a sad development that we must end without further delay,” he said, suggesting that the mind-set of men and boys be changed to not only appreciate that women and girls deserve protection, but have rights and freedoms enshrined in the constitution as any of us.
He said they must also be made to understand that any violation of the rights of women and girls is a serious crime that carries weighty punishment under the law as “we advocate for a safe Nigeria for our women and girls.”
It is public knowledge that GBV prevalence is relatively high in the north. This year, Lalong, through his leadership as the chairman of the 19 Northern Governors’ Forum, declared a state of emergency on the increasing rate of sexual and gender-based violence in the country.
The forum, in addition, also resolved to ensure that member States promulgate laws with stiffer penalties against perpetrators of sexual-based violence.
“We have all resolved and condemned all forms of violence against women, girls, and children. As part of our resolve, Governors are to ensure the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 in their various States without further delay.
“Working with our State Houses of Assembly, the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 in the various States will soon be attained. The Speakers of the 19 Northern States Houses of Assembly have already assured us of their support,” he said.
Women are more prone to suffer violence in times of conflict and like the rest of the world, there has been a surge of GBV in Nigeria due lockdowns and other restrictions caused by the pandemic, and stakeholders are engaging to ebb prevalence rate.
Cases of violence against women have more than trebled during the COVID-19 lockdown this year. According to the Nigerian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, there were at least 3,600 reported rape cases—more than 100 in each of Nigeria’s 36 states during the lockdown. This figure excludes all other forms of violence, and the cases that were unreported.
Adding to the ideas at the VOW 2020 virtual event, the governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, through his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said so much could be done for women by giving them political power/influence, to enable them influence policies and programmes to favour the disadvantaged groups in society.
He said giving political powers to women is a form of empowerment and it helps a long way to deter anyone from suppressing their voices especially when it is considered that gender-based violence is somewhat linked to helplessness and vulnerability.
“We hope that giving political support to women through gender inclusion would help to inspire our little girls to aspire to the highest level they can,” AbdulRazaq said.
Also speaking at ‘the men-only’ event, the deputy president of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege said Nigeria must move quickly to address the legal and cultural challenges facing our womenfolk.
He further called on men to take responsibility to keep women safe.
“Men should take more responsibility, intervene, and do what is right to keep women safe. No man has a right to assault a woman for whatever reason, except of course in self-defense. It is a matter of inalienable right of persons to liberty,” the senator said.
