By Elizabeth Uwandu

In commemoration of 2017 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, marked with 16 days activism against gender based violence by the United Nations from 25th November to 10th December, Jabez House and AlphaZulu held a roundtable last weekend on fundamental gaps which continue to increase the spade of physical, sexual and psychological violence.

The discourse premised on 2017 theme tagged,” Leave no-one behind centered on global violence against women and girls, VAWG and on feasibility of achieving Goal 5 of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development had participants such as Adesola Alamutu, Executive Director, Jabez House; Elizabeth Molles-Mullard, Principal Advocate, AlphaZuku foundation; Bisi Akande Aka-Bashorun of Fiona Johnson Limited; Oluwaseun Idowu , Project Manager, Lizzy Adams foundation; Miss Maladires among others.

The forum noted that culture, policies gap, weak institutions such as families, religious organizations, mental health issues and ignorance, including poverty etc. were machineries that continued to fuel the three forms of gender abuse, physical, sexual and psychological prevalent in the society.

Alamutu, said that the desire to involve everyone especially the male gender in the fight against all forms of abuse aligned made the two Jabez House and AlphaZulu foundations aligned their discussions with the United Nations UNiTE Campaign’s commitment for a world free from violence for all women and girls around the world via”Orange the world,” using the colour designated by the UNiTE campaign to symbolize a brighter future without violence. Organize events to orange streets, schools and landmarks

Alamutu, who is the Chief Executive Officer, Children And The Environment, CATE foundation noted that violence rooted in cultural norms and values needed to be tackled for men to accord respect to the female folks. Her words, “Some men believe that every woman needs to be raped once in her life time. But, it is never okay to rape or touch me as a female,” voiced the activists.

Continuing, the Green Queen added that men and boys were needed in the struggle of gender advocacy to correct psychological abuse which was worst than other abuses. “Many girls and women esteem have been smashed by patriarchal norms that most times place the male over the female. This has to be corrected by getting everyone involved,” added Alamutu.

On her part, Moses-Mullard opined that the forum was to draw stakeholders to take active role in putting the menace of gender abuse to stop at all levels.

She also added that environment, the protection of people especially the perceived voiceless in the society and making the citizens prosperous were keys in taming women and child abuses.

Listing ways to address gender based violence issues, AlphaZulu founder said that, “It is imperative that we take this campaign to schools, because children are primarily our focus in changing the culture of violence in the society. When our children are properly educated on the dangers of abuses, the chances of them being abusers will reduce. “ added Moses-Mullard.

The human rights advocate also vowed to take the campaign and sensitization of gender issues to   the Lagos House of Assembly for proper policy formulations. “We will take this campaign against gender abuse to Lagos state house Assembly, because the Parliament needs to make policies with people and not for the people,” noted the UK based activist.