By Ebunoluwa Sessou

Amplifying voices against gender-based violence with the theme, ‘UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls was the centre for the 2023 16 Days of Activism against Gender–based Violence. 

According to the United Nations investigation, one in three women experience physical and sexual violence in their lifetime. While one in six boys has experienced violence in their lifetime.

Hence, the need to create more awareness in different sections of the country including the workplace, schools, homes, and community among others.

Sterling One Foundation, in collaboration with Live Abundantly and the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, officially launched the 2023 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria by introducing the live streaming of CHATROOM.

A film that talked about the need to break the silence to further create awareness on gender-based violence. 

The CEO, Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, disclosed that the theme for the film was centred on GBV, while the sideline was to break the silence and the goal was for more survivors to break their silence and get help. 

“For individuals, it is to create CHATROOM in their homes, and offices and identify solutions to these issues within their different spheres of endeavors. 

“Our action is also to ensure that all parties including the public sector increase what they are already doing and for the private sector to be more intentional in issues around GBV. For the development sector to increase the work that they are doing relating to GBV while individuals intentionally take responsibility to reduce the rate of GBV. 

The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, in his goodwill message stressed the importance of legislative measures to protect human rights and urged collaboration between the government and the public.

In her goodwill message, Dr. Ama Onyerinma, Founder of Live Abundantly, observed that the provided statistics may not fully capture the reality due to underreporting, adding that there is a need for people to use their voices to amplify awareness about it. She noted that when gender-based violence is not reported there can be no social justice for victims, no better awareness, no protection and no advocacy.

Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi affirmed Lagos State’s intolerance of gender-based violence, citing the establishment of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) as part of its commitment to tackling the issue under its THEMES Agenda.

Goodwill messages were also shared by Dr. Adewale Oyerinde of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, who reiterated that the focus of the theme is to deepen the conversation on gender violence, not only from the perspective of women but also men. 

“Our disposition to gender violence has changed considering the ratification by Nigeria of Convention 190 of the Labour International Organisation, ILO, on harassment and violence which changes the context and the scope of what is called harassment and violence in the workplace. It is an issue that we are taking passionately as it concerns the workplace. 

“Gender violence is a multidimensional problem which needs to be addressed as such. We have focused on the workplace. Every individual in the workplace spends at least 9 hours every day and lots of things could happen within those hours. 

“Our focus is to create awareness for employers and employees on what constitutes violence either spoken or unspoken and how everyone can consciously avoid it. There must be a structure in place that will arrest or restrain anyone who has the potential to harass everyone in the workplace.

“Government must create a structure in which an individual can escalate issues and for investigations to be carried out so that the victim can be protected whenever he or she comes to complain”, he said.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Pearl Uzokwe of the Malala Fund in Nigeria commended the multi-sectoral partners gathered. She added that all citizens have a part to play and commended the sustained efforts of the Lagos State Government in prioritizing the elimination of gender-based violence.

“Every one of us can contribute to eliminating GBV.  Our homes lay the foundation and the tone for what is acceptable in the larger society. Let us train both boys and girls to truly respect and uphold the girl child and women. 

“A girl’s self-esteem is oftentimes made or marred in equal proportion to the validation they get from their fathers. Don’t just think it, or spend your way to it, actively speak it over those girl children and build them up. For your sons, do not just tell them how to treat women, but actively model it. Your example will outlive any words you use”, she said.

Meanwhile, Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre, (MAMA Centre) has stressed the need to fund prevention strategies to proactively stop gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Demanding for a policy shift to the informal sector, the Executive Director, MAMA Centre, Ms Chioma Kanu lamented that violence against women remains a major barrier to achieving equality, inclusive development, and peace, as well as to upholding the human rights of women and girls in Nigeria.

She said: “While Gender-based Violence can affect any individual, irrespective of their sex, age and ethnicity, we must stress that certain groups of women and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence.