Violence Against Women, Major Impediment To Gender Equality - WARDC

 

ABEOKUTA - The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has decried the persistent violence against women in Nigeria, describing it as a violation of human rights and major impediment to achieving gender equality and empowerment of women in the country.

The Country Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi disclosed this on Tuesday at a capacity building for council of Iyalode and Iyaloja in Ogun State, with the theme, ''Towards Ending Violence Against Women and Girls'' held in Abeokuta.

Dr. Abiola added that WARDC with the support of FORD Foundation is implementing solidarity, accountability, and Commitment to ending violence against women and girls in the six South West states.

She added that the project is aimed at building community level accountability mechanism at addressing gender-based violence.

Cross section of participants at the workshop

"The project therefore through innovative ways supports action that can contribute raising women and girls voices and addressing the limitations imposed on them by violence in their target communities by promoting the meaningful involvement of traditional leaders including conceptualizing and implementing projects in their communities to address violence against women", she said 

Also speaking, the Iyalode of yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson has canvassed for death penalty for rape convicts, just as she clamored for the arrest of suspected 'Association of Yahoo Mothers' allegedly backing Internet fraudsters in Ogun State.

Alaba Lawson noted that parents should take the welfare of their wards serious and not indulge the gender-based in order to curb all social vices in society.

"Today, we are saying no to violence against women. Another worrying situation is that a child of 20 years will be riding an exotic car worth millions of naira. And once they are arrested, their parents are ready because they have formed an association of yahoo parents. Who are they? I think the government needs to get them arrested", she added 

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ogunremi Melutia has raised an alarm over the increasing rates of gender-based violence in the state, saying the state government has begun sensitization of the citizens to stop the culture of silence and resilience but to speak out.

"On a daily basis, the ministry receives no less than 20 reports of sexual violence mostly intimate partner violence, neglect, and forced economy dependency.

"However, I wish to reiterate the fact that the Ogun State government has zero-tolerance to sexual and gender-based violence and that be proven by with the inauguration of Violence Against Person Management Committee in the year 2020".