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By Adenike Ayodele/Ngozi Njoku
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, on Tuesday sensitised traditional rulers in Lagos State on their roles in preventing violence against women and girls.
The group said that the community is one of the factors contributing to sexual and gender-based violence.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation programme, with the theme, “Annual Dialogue with State Council of Traditional Leaders on Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls 2024″, is part of activities for FIDA’s week-long annual meeting.
The programme is supported by the Ford Foundation as part of implementation of its project titled: “Engagement, coordination and sharing of lessons on Gender-Based Violence prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government leaders in Nigeria”.
In her welcome remarks, the Vice National President, FIDA, Mrs Amina Agbaje, said grassroots structures promote violence against women and girls with impunity across Nigerian communities.
According to her, traditional beliefs in Nigeria impose economic barrier to women because of their gender, leaving resource control and allocation mainly to male gender.
Agbaje said the sensitisation programme was sequel to the escalating violence against women and girls in Nigeria,fueled by the interplay of faith, culture, economic, political, historical and social factors.
She said statistics regarding rape are difficult to obtain across the world.
According to her, the biggest complication is that most victims of sexual violence choose not to report it.
The National Secretary of FIDA, Mrs Eliana Martins, while speaking with NAN on the sidelines of the programme, noted that traditional rulers were persons of influence to communities and as a result, are best in tackling gender-based violence.
Martins urged community leaders to be sensitive so that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence could speak up.
“It is not easy for you to be violated; stand in public; and acknowledge that you have been violated.
“As a community, we can act as a support group by not stigmatising so that the perpetrators of this evil act can be punished,” she said.
Also, the Project Manager of FIDA, Mr Fikih Obaro, said the escalating violence against women and girls in Nigeria is filled by a complex interplay of faith, culture, economic, political, social and historical factors.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs reported 913, 917 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in 2021 with 158, 517 involving women and children.
He said: “This alarming number highlights the severity and challenge of addressing violence against women and girls.
“FIDA Nigeria recognises effective prevention strategies in order to engage traditional leaders within the local communities in preventing sexual and gender-based violence due to their deep understanding of local context.
“With the support of Ford Foundation, FIDA carried out its first phase of intervention in Plateau, Lagos and Ekiti states.
“We build a cohort of traditional, cultural and religious leaders by abandoning social norms and practices that subjugate the rights of women.”
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, in her goodwill message, commended the state government for being at the forefront in the fight against gender-based violence.
Bolarinwa, who was represented by Mrs Muyibi Kabangu, also urged traditional rulers present to channel their energy toward eradicating gender based-violence in Nigeria.
A traditional ruler of Idi-Orogbo Shangisha in Lagos, Mr Mukaila Muili, urged the local government to empower head of communities to help prevent gender-based violence.
According to him, community leaders are the closest to rural people. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
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