Senate to Stop Gender Violence with Five Bills as Women Rally in Abuja

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

 The Senate has promised to fight violence against women through the passage of about five bills that are currently before the National Assembly.
This is coming just as women in their numbers, including civil society organisations yesterday gathered at the Unity Fountain, Eagle Square, and other parts of Abuja to raise awareness against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The Senate Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, said everyone must support the fight against GBV.
Kingibe, who is also representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the red chamber, said the ugly trend of violence against women must stop.
Speaking to journalists during a “Walkathon,” in solidarity with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Kingibe said women are the backbone of every nation.

She expressed optimism that the gender bills that suffered setbacks during the 9th Assembly would be considered by the 10th Assembly.
According to her, legislators in the 10th assembly are unanimous in condemning any form of violence in the country, particularly, GBV.
“Without any exaggeration, women are the backbone of this country. We are the backbone of any country. We are the backbone of the home. Can we survive with a broken backbone?

“Nigeria is a country that is lagging in all our human development indices
“Therefore, gender-based violence must stop, and how will it stop? It is going to stop when there is proper reporting, proper consequences, and collective responsibility, male and female. As you can see from the number of the organisations represented here, we have decided that women are going to unite to fight Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Also, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs and former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr Iparibo Harry Banigo, said women do not want any form of violence or intimidation.
She said women would want to be the best they can, adding that the road walk was one of their ways of creating awareness and inviting the public to join in the fight.

Earlier, FCT Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs, Mrs Adedayo Benjamin Laniyi, appreciated women for coming out for the road walk, noting that it was a way of showing their preparedness to change the narrative which posits that women do not support other women.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, in her speech, asked Nigerians to protect the women.

“We affirm our commitment at the UN to the fight against GBV. We are at the forefront,” she added.

Representative of the UN, Kuawu Kowsin, said the gathering was to sensitise the people on the importance of joining hands to end GBV against women.

“GBV has been an issue that is not only in Nigeria but a number of countries, so the UN has joined the Ministry of Women Affairs to send a message that we are together to eliminate GBV.”