FIDA reiterates commitment to uphold women, children’s rights
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Kogi chapter, on Monday reiterated commitment to raise the standard of women and children’s rights in the state.
The Chairperson of FIDA, Kogi branch, Mrs Lilian Ajuma Okolo, at a sensitisation campaign in Lokoja, told journalists that FIDA remained committed to curbing domestic violence and sexual harassment in Kogi.
Okolo said the sensitisation was organised by FIDA Kogi to commemorate the 2021 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, tagged: “Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now.”
She urged the people to join FIDA and other stakeholders to unite and collectively stand against any form of domestic violence against women and children, and report cases to FIDA office.
“There is urgency in the matter to stop every form of violence against women; we must end violence against women now. Our law makers must pass laws that are gender sensitive.
“In this light, we have come out today to sensitise the general public and to call on all stakeholders to help in the campaign to stop violence against women,” she said.
She thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello for giving women a level playing ground in the state, while appealing to him to assent the Violence Against Persons and Prohibition Bill and passed it into law.
“We thanked the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kogi State, Ibrahim Sani Muhammad (SAN), for his support which had made this year a laudable one for us in Kogi FIDA.
“We also thanked all the stakeholders in the justice sector including the Chief Judge,” Okolo said.
She stressed that FIDA’s goal was to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected and providing channels devoid of obstacles using their professional skills to support them.
Members of FIDA Kogi during the sensitisation, carried placards with various inscriptions, like: “Domestic Violence is Insane,” Children Are Not Sex Objects, Stop Sexual Molestation.”
Others are:”Domestic Violence is Never a Solution, “End Sexual Harassment Now,” Domestic Violence is a Leading Cause of Homelessness for Women, “Every Mother is a Working Mother,” “Respect Women, The Best Choice,” among others.
