The House of Representatives on Monday marched from the National Assembly Complex to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters to raise awareness about the need to end all forms of violence against women.
The symbolic march brought together federal lawmakers led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, women from all walks of life, and youth groups.
Speaking at the event, Abbas noted that a woman dies from violence every ten minutes across the world.
He said, “This year’s programme comes at a time when women all over the world are crying. Women are in anger. Women are in frustration. Because of this, the United Nations has issued a damning report that, every ten minutes, a woman is killed globally.
“This is an unacceptable trend, an unforgivable trend. We in parliament must unite more than ever before with relevant authorities, particularly law enforcement, to ensure that we curb this dangerous trend to the barest minimum.
“I want to say categorically that the National Assembly will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all forms of violence against women and girls are drastically reduced, if not completely eliminated, in the very near future.”
He promised that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, would play an active role in the next National Action Plan Against Violence Towards Women, which will be announced soon.
“We will send our representatives and participate actively in ensuring that robust policies are enacted to significantly reduce the incidence of violence of all kinds against women, children, and girls,” he added.
On her part, the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara, said one in three women globally are victims of gender-based violence.
She called on law enforcement agents to work hard to bring perpetrators of violence against women to justice.
“We want justice. We say no to lecturers violating students, threatening to fail them if they do not comply. We say no to bosses at work violating their secretaries or staff, threatening dismissal if they do not yield.
“We say no to all forms of violence against our children, our girls. Fathers raping daughters, uncles raping children, and boys raping girls must stop,” Ogbara said.
At the Police Headquarters, Ogbara added, “We are here this morning to present a petition for immediate intervention, investigation, and prosecution on gender-based violence to the Inspector General of Police.
“We are calling for urgent action on gender-based violence during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.”
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who was on hand to receive the petition, promised to study and implement the resolution.
The police chief, while thanking the organisers, assured the readiness of the Force to stamp out all forms of violence against women.
“This occasion serves as a reminder that eradicating gender-based violence globally is a collective effort. It is not only law enforcement agents who can make a difference. It is not only law enforcement actions that will eradicate gender-based violence. It is a collective obligation for each one of us,” Egbetokun said.
Also lending his voice to the campaign, the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, noted that the collaboration of ministries, departments, and agencies would lead to a drastic reduction in violence against women in Nigeria.
The theme for the 2024 ’16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ is “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”