The African Women Lawyers Association(AWLA) Nigeria has called for effective collaborations among civil society organisations, government agencies, religious leaders and other critical stakeholders in taming the increasing violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
The National President of Association , Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe, made the call on Thursday at a market sensitisation against gender-based violence, and during the inauguration and swearing-in of AWLA Nigeria, Oyo State *branch* Exco members in Ibadan.
The market sensitization which was held at Scout Camp Market Ibadan was part of activities lined up by AWLA Nigeria in commemoration of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which runs every year from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10, Human Rights Day.
The 2024 edition of the annual campaign, which has the theme “Towards Beijing +30: Unite To End Violence Against Women”, calls on individuals and women-focused groups and organisations to take action towards eliminating violence.
Ibharuneafe said the association embarked on the market sensitisation to draw public attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women and children.
“AWLA Nigeria is a non-partisan and non-political association whose mission and vision is to protect, promote and preserve the interest of women and children in the society, ” she said.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Coordinator of AWLA, Mrs. Adebimpe Alex-Ndukwe, expressed readiness of AWLA to render free *advise* and legal support to women, children and vulnerable suffering from any form of gender-based violence.
She listed some of the violence against women and children to include economic violence, sexual abuse, phycological abuse, child labour and discrimination among others.
In the same vein, the Oyo State General Secretary of AWLA Nigeria, Mrs. Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, reiterated the need to raise awareness, call for action and respond to violence against women and girls, whenever and wherever it happens.
She called on individuals, non-governmental organizations, grassroots organizations, and governments to join hands together to ensure protection of women and children.
Earlier, the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs) Toyin Balogun, said the policies of the current administration of Gov. Seyi Makinde, has zero tolerance for any kind of sexual and gender based violence.
The commissioner noted that large numbers of cases of violence against women and children are being swept under the carpet due to culture and social beliefs.
She lamented that the major challenge in handling cases of gender based violence remained: people that were supposed to work with government and security agencies to ensure justice for the victims were still the same people that would come back to pleading on behalf of the perpetrators.
She noted that the ministry would collaborate with relevant government arms to criminalize any attempt by any individual to stop prosecution of gender based violence perpetrators.
“In the days ahead we are going to embark on more advocacy campaigns, sensitisation so that perpetrators would not have an excuse during prosecution.
“The implications of sexual and gender based violence is far beyond physical abuse, it includes psychological trauma and spiritual elements of the trauma. The ministry in collaboration with other stakeholders has come up with several creative interventions outside the old norm to meet the needs of survival, “she said.
She commended AWLA Nigeria for being in the forefront of supporting women to be the best they could be. She added that the government confirmed AWLA Nigeria to be a legit and responsible association that the government is proud to be associated with.
The commissioner promised more effective collaborations with AWLA Nigeria in the best interest of women in Oyo state
