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Pass VAPP bill now to reduce rape, violence against Women, Education Expert tasks Kogi Assembly
The Kogi State House of Assembly has been called upon to reflect and move towards the speedy passage of the Kogi State Violence Against Person Prohibition Bill, which has since gone through the Public Hearing.
Mrs Lola Balagbogbo, a Chief Lecturer with the Kogi State Polytechnic made the call in Agbaja on Saturday at a SARVE II project Women summit on preventing violent extremism with the theme: Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a covid-19 world. The program which was organized by Action aid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative For Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID), was part of activities to mark the 2021 international women day aimed to see community resilience against violent extremism.
Balagbogbo said Globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than their partner. According to her, globally, as many as 38% of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
She hinted further that about 200 million women have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting. Speaking further, Balagbogbo averred that, “Gender-based violence (GBV) is a human rights violation, a public health challenge, and a barrier to civic, social, political, and economic participation. It undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status, and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic stability, and security of nations.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women and girls (VAWG), is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. The numbers are staggering: 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence”. She said during this covid-19 pandemic, much women were exposed to gender based violence. ” Some women are forced by their husband to have sexual intercourse with them which is not supposed to be so. In Enugu State, it was learnt that about 84 men slept with their own daughter which is totally barbaric and unacceptable.
We have some barbaric practices in our communities, which has a negative impacts on the lives of women in the society. ” It is important to state that if they continue to keep quiet just because they don’t want to dent their family name, this will continue. Many women are loosing their lives everyday because of the unfair treatment melted on women which must be put to a stop” she added.
The chief lecturer added that Women are leaders in the society and should always maintain a pedestal of nation building and should not be seen as a piece of rag or punching bag.
She however maintained that women had over the years failed to assist one another especially those seeking for elective position stressing that it is time for women to speak out and fight for their right in a bid to an end to violence against women in the world. ” Women are enemies of themselves simply because they hardly support each other when ever their counterparts are bold enough to contest for elective positions. This must stop.
We have many women who are occupying juicy positions and has made the world proud. Look Ngozi OKonja Iweala, is the latest example.
On the way forward, Balagbogbo called for increase awareness of the scope of the problem and its impact, improve services for survivors of violence and strengthen prevention efforts. “Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, Class, religion, education level, and international borders. An estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Although statistics on the prevalence of violence vary, the scale is tremendous, the scope is vast, and the consequences for individuals, families, communities, and countries are devastating.
“Its vital to promote the rights of all individuals and reduce gender based violence while mitigating its harmful effects on individuals and communities Uniess women, girls, men, and boys fully enjoy their human nghts and are free from violence, progress toward development will fall short. Goodwill messages were delivered by the Kogi State commissioner for Women and Social Development Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba who was represented by the Women Leader Oworo Ward Mrs Talatu Malik, Executive Director of PIBCID Halima Sadiq who was represented by PIBCID senior program officer for SARVE II project Mrs Ifedola Ikeji and Blessing Barida an educationist with the state ministry of education.
The SARVE II project women summit on preventing violent extremism was done simultaneously in 12 communities across six Local Government areas in Kogi State. They are Lokoja LGA, Agbaja, Tajimi, ,(Kogi LGA ) Koto Karfe, Ette, (Adavi) Osisi, Osara Gada/Aku, (Okehi) Inata, Ukowa, (Ankpa) Abache, Emekutu, (igalamela odolu) Ujagba, Ugbedomagwu.
The SARVE II project aims to see community resilience against violent extremism strengthened in Kogi and nasarawa state. The three year project will be implemented in 24 communities within 12 local government of both states.
