SGBV: UN Calls for Improved Investment to Curb Violence against Women

•EU expends N1bn on 41 referral centres nationwide

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Matthias Schmale has appealed to all stakeholders to step up investment to end maltreatment of women and girls and mitigate against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV).

He made the appeal at a media briefing and official “Orange Lighting” ceremony at an event organised by the UN Women as part of activities lined up for the 16 days of activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV).

Schmale, talking on the theme of this year’s celebration of 16 days of activism: “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence,” said that all stakeholders must stand up to end the menace.

“Investment obviously means money. We need to continue to push for gender-responsive budgeting at federal and state levels, that is one of the responsibilities and it grows in power.

“The private sector needs to step up, UN Women representatives and some other groups with the private sector would agree to setting up a fund to actually fight GBV.

“On the need for prevention, we need to get the judiciary to work harder to prosecute violators of GBV,” he said.

Schmale advised law enforcement agencies, media organisations, the creative industry and traditional institutions, to also work collectively to ensure the prevention against GBV.

UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong on her part, said violence against women was the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide.

She added: “We need to work together to tackle this menace to achieve meaningful impact. We all need to invest resources, energy and time to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, called for collective campaign to end GBV.

Kennedy-Ohanenye who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mrs Beatrice Eyong said the campaign calls on all stakeholders to be committed to end GBV and all forms of violence, including discrimination against women and girls in both private and public sectors.

“The theme particularly calls for investment in girl child education, women socioeconomic empowerment, ending harmful traditional practices and ICT training for women and girls,” she said.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe on her part, said plans had been put on ground to sensitise Abuja residents who she is representing , in the Senate on importance of ending GBV.

She said: “I cannot know when a woman is being violated in Nyanya when I am in Maitama, so towards the end of the 16 days of activism, we will be calling for Orange March-up.

“Everybody will go on and sign and it will then be the monitoring body, in your respective community, so that it will be easier for women to report violence cases.

“We can only make meaningful impact when we are united, not when we are working in silos.”

Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has asked the federal and state governments to take the battle against (SGBV) to new heights by funding the 41 existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) already existing across the country.

The appeal came on the backdrop of revelation by the EU that over N1 billion  had been expended so far on establishment and sustenance of SARCs across the country.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the 9th Network Conference of SARCs, the EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Samuela Isopi, disclosed that over 35,000 survivors have so far benefitted from the services of the centres across the country.

He said the federal and state governments needed to take ownership of SARCs by adequately funding them.

The event was organised by the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC Phase II) Programme of International Initiative for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, funded by the EU.

Isopi said the funding will go a long way to strengthen the centres to deliver on their mandate of providing free medical, counselling and support services to survivors of sexual violence.

She said: “In Nigeria, the European Union has contributed over a billion naira in support of SARCs across the country and we will continue to advocate for more centres and for appropriate funding allocations at federal and state level to make them operational and sustainable.

“Addressing violence against women and girls requires a comprehensive and collective approach. We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in supporting legislative instruments.”

The Project Manager, Access to Justice and Co-ordinator, Network of Sexual Assault Referral Centres, RoLAC II, Oluwatoyosi Giwa, said SARCs were expected to provide free medical assistance, forensic medical examination, counselling and justice support services to survivors of the act.

Speaking at the event, the Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Head of the SGBV Response Unit, Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Gbola-Awopetu called for multi-sectoral support from relevant stakeholders.