NGO Urges Stakeholders To End Gender-Based Violence In Osun

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has sought the cooperation of traditional, religious, and community leaders in ending gender-based violence in Osun State.

The head of Lagos UNFPA Liaison Office, Abbigail Msemburi, made the appeal on Saturday at the sideline of a one-day symposium to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with key stakeholders in the state.

The program was organised by a non-govermental organisation, Action Health Incorporated, in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Welfare, and with the support of UNFPA.

Msemburi said the long age tradition of circumcising the girl child is violating the victims’ rights, adding that UNFPA is focused on making sure that there is zero gender-based violence in Nigeria.

She noted that UNFPA, through the NGO, has sensitised communities on the dangers of the harmful practice of FGM, calling on all stakeholders to work together to achieve the desired result.

Msemburi, while warning those who are still engaging in the act of circumcising girls, said UNFPA had come up with a system that ensured that perpetrators are quickly brought to justice.

She said, “Some of these communities believe they are following tradition, but the tradition is violating the rights of girls. So at UNFPA, we are focused on making sure that there is zero gender-based violence, including FGM.

“We are working together with the traditional and religious leaders as well as the government of Nigeria to make sure that communities are aware of the dangers of FGM. They should be aware of these traditional practices that are harmful to women and girls.

“We are very focused on working with the law enforcement agencies. We started with the policy level, where we made sure we supported the domestication of the gender-based violence act.

“We are going to make sure that all the laws are being enforced. We have also come up with a fast-tracked code system where every perpetrator is quickly brought to justice.”

In her keynote address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs Ayobola Awolowo, said the state has taken meaningful steps to address GBV.

She, however, noted that there is much work still to be done, calling on all stakeholders to join hands to eliminate GBV in the state.

“The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is not just a campaign; it is a clarion call to governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to commit to creating a society where everyone can live free from fear and harm.

“Here in Osun State, we have taken meaningful steps to address GBV, but we recognize that there is much work still to be done.

READ ALSO

•Osun Security Personnel Trained On Policies Of Abandoning FGM

•Osun Healthcare Students Trained On FGM Prevention

“Let me take this moment to express our profound gratitude to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for their unwavering support in Osun State. Through their partnership, we have been able to strengthen our efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.”

Mrs Yemisi Opalola, the State Police Public Relations Officer who represented the Commissioner of Police, Abba Muhammad, at the event, warned perpetrators to desist or face the wrath of the law.

“We are using this medium to give a stern warning to anyone engaging or planning to engage in gender-based violence to desist. Anybody caught will face the full wrath of the law,” Opalola said.

The Program Officer of Action Health Incorporated, Fatimah Idris, said the event was to raise awareness about the dangers of gender-based violence in Osun communities.

She said, “This is a commemoration of 16 days of activities against gender-based violence. This event is to raise awareness about gender-based violence among community members.

“We are using different cultural edutainment means, including dance and drama, to pass information about the dangers of gender-based violence to our people and the need for community members to stop the act.”