Follow Us on Google
Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The United Nations and the European Union have jointly applauded the efforts of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for imposing a state of emergency on Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The governors had in June declared a state of emergency on sexual and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), towards addressing the various indignities that women go through in their own homes and that is now becoming rampant in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.
The governors were commended at the United Nations building at the Central Business District in Abuja during a meeting organised at the instance of the UN between the UN, EU and the NGF, on a programme code-named the Spotlight Initiative.
According to a statement issued by the NGF’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss possible areas of partnership between the initiative and the NGF. Although it was essentially a physical meeting, the representatives of the European Union attended virtually from the United Kingdom.
The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi who led the NGF to the meeting, commended the UN and the EU for the initiative which he described as a game changer especially in this era of COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Fayemi added that this initiative couldn’t have come at a better time, coming on the heels of the last NGF meeting where the governors took conscious steps to mitigate the unwholesome incidences of rape and other Gender Based Violence in the country.
He said there are other related issues that the Governors are looking at including the Child Rights’ Act that have plagued the country in the past and they are being seriously considered for action.
Fayemi said although the Federal Government had taken steps in the right direction in solving these problems, some states have not been able to domesticate them due to certain cultural and sometimes religious implications.
The NGF chairman disclosed that already there is concerted efforts at applying the naming and shaming of perpetrators of these GBVs as a sex offenders register has already been opened.
The Ekiti State Governor also identified treatment, counselling and care as some of the most critical activities that can help the victims of GBV because they happen to be at the receiving end.
He also advocated the establishment of referral centres and shelters for the victims as not just necessary but critical in helping curb the problem.
He also included the social underpinnings that lead to these crimes which include insufficient knowledge on the part of the perpetrators saying education for both the perpetrators and the victims would go a long way in helping both.
He said the bottom line is that the women must not just be healed and counselled but must also be empowered to be able to cope with their peculiar situations and circumstances.
Fayemi said these are systemic challenges that take time to address and therefore expressed delight that the NGF would be pleased to be working with stakeholders to build and facilitate the implementation of functional systems for the country.
“As Governors, we are strong proponents of never letting the crisis to go to waste, instead we try and turn adversity to opportunity. At the NGF we do not just present a responsive but effective governance as our priority,” Fayemi concluded.
Earlier, Edward Kallon the Resident Coordinator had enumerated area of cooperation with the NGF which include GBV, genital mutilation and Access to Justice among several other social inconveniences that have been plaguing mostly the weak and under privileged members of society.
On his part, Kurt Correls who spoke for the European Union on-line from the EU headquarters, applauded the Nigerian governors who he said have risen to the occasion by declaring a state of emergency on GBVs and looks forward to working with the NGF at technical level to find a lasting solution to GBV and other anti-social behaviour in the country. He noted that GBV has always been with us in every society but what is commendable is the fact that this courageous team of Nigeria’s Governors have now deemed it imperative to address the matter once and for all.
He said Nigeria is one of eight countries to benefit from its EU500 million assistance for the programme and expects that tangible work would be done in this area.
Kurt also emphasised the need to align all activities of the programme to meet the standards set for it because of how important it is to ensure the credibility of the process.
Fayemi was accompanied to the meeting by the Director General of the NGF Mr Asishana Bayo Okauru, Alhaji Abdullateef Shittu, the Executive Director Research, Dr Abdulwahab Ahmad the NGF Health Advisor and Hauwa Halliru, Technical Assistant to the DG NGF.
—
