Kogi gov’t calls for decisive measures toward mitigating GBV
The Kogi Government has called for more decisive measures by NGOs, institutions, corporate organisations and individuals toward mitigating the menace of Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Kabir-Buba, made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement to mark “Orange the World 16 Days Activism against GBV” campaign in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, organised by Centre for Integrated Health Programme (CIHP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs was aimed at addressing GBV issues in Kogi.
The commissioner urged the stakeholders to focus on investment, financing and implementation of different strategies to prevent violence against women and girls in the state.
She said the campaign, which began at the inauguration of the Women Global Leadership Institute in 1991, was used by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
“In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General in 2008, launched the campaign ‘UNITE’ to End Violence against Women by 2030, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
“November 25 to Dec. 10 is known as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, which provides a time to stir up action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
“November 25, is designed as the Orange the World Day by the UNITE to End Violence against Women Campaign. Orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence.
“It also serves as a means of demonstrating solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence; it is therefore used as the colour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,” she said.
Kabir-Buba commended CIHP for providing crucial support to GBV survivors through their Minimum Package Initiative.
“The initiative not only offers essential services to survivors but plays a pivotal role in restoring dignity and hope to those affected by gender-based violence.”
She said this year’s campaign theme: “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls,” focuses on citizens show casing their concern about ending violence against women and girls by sharing their contributions in creating a world free of violence towards women and girls.
The commissioner described GBV as a phenomenon that transcends social, economic and geographic borders, which impacts girls, women, men, boys, and gender nonconforming individuals all over the world.
“GBV are harmful practices rooted in power imbalance between the sexes and fuelled by multiple factors including social and cultural norms, social acceptance of harmful practices, and insufficient legal protections.
“GBV are harmful practices that disproportionately impact on girls and women.
“The Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 2018 found that nine per cent of women aged 15 to 49 had suffered sexual assault at least once in their lifetime while 31 per cent had experienced physical violence.
“Kogi, in recent past, has witnessed a rise in cases of gender-based violence though not fully reflected in the National Gender-Based Violence (NGBV) Data Dashboard, which should serve as a tool for prevention and response to GBV in Nigeria.
“These are some of the gaps we are expecting this engagement to close,” she said.
Kabir-Buba said that the government had inaugurated a 23- member Technical Working Group to tackle gender-based violence in the state with the cardinal object of ensuring that gender equality was upheld in all spheres of human life.
Earlier, Mr Kalu Samuel, CIHP’s Gender Mainstreaming Associate, said that a total of 2,203 cases were reported in Kogi in 2023 by the NGBV Data Situation Room and Dashboard for Prevention and Response to GBV in Nigeria.
“It was in the light of the foregoing that CIHP in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs organised the stakeholders’ engagement meeting to discuss ways of addressing GBV,” he said.
