The Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Asabe Vilita, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen laws addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) to ensure justice for victims and accountability for offenders.
During a sensitization program in Abuja focused on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) laws and SGBV prosecution, Dr. Vilita emphasized the need for robust legal enforcement. She called for the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, expressing concern over instances where offenders evade punishment, thereby weakening efforts to combat SGBV.
“The law must be enforced thoroughly to prevent perpetrators from escaping justice,” she stated, advocating a zero-tolerance approach to SGBV. She also urged the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) to intensify outreach programs in rural areas, where such violence is more prevalent, to ensure adequate protection for vulnerable communities.
Geraldine Etuk, Acting National President of the NCWS, highlighted the initiative’s focus on community engagement and empowering women through legal education on FGM and SGBV. She described FGM as a severe human rights violation, equating it to torture and a breach of health, dignity, and equality.
“Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, with Nigeria recording one of the highest prevalence rates,” Etuk noted, stressing that SGBV, including FGM, is a significant barrier to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Mrs. Yewande Awepetu, Deputy Director and Head of the SGBV Response Unit at the Ministry of Justice, encouraged participants to leverage the VAPP Act to advocate for survivors and report cases of gender-based violence.
The event, organized by the NCWS in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), was part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, aimed at raising awareness and fostering a coordinated response to SGBV in Nigeria.
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