16 Days of Activism: APC Professional Women Council Advocates Multi-Sectoral Approach Towards Ending GBV in Kogi.

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The All Progressives Congress Professional Women Council has described the rising cases of Gender-based violence in society as unacceptable, pointing out that it is a pandemic that must be fought multi-sectorally using workable policies.

Rekiya Onaivo Sanni, State Coordinator
APC Professional Women Council and is also the Executive Director of Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (keda) she made this known at a Media Parley as part of the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, said that the World Health Organization statistics show that 35% of people against affected by GBV are women.

GBV noted that everywhere, in workplaces, churches, markets, at homes, pointing out that because it is happening everywhere, she calls for all hands to be on deck.

The State Coordinator added that the APC Professional Women Council is therefore looking forward to having cross-cutting policies on how to mitigate the noticed gaps identified as causes for GBV in the State.

Rikya Onaivi Sanni described this year’s theme: Policy Advocacy, A Panacea for the Elimination of Offender-based Violence in Kogi State
as very crucial, and she said it could not have come at a better time than now.

While pointing out that the time for women to collectively rise to talk about the issues of GBV as it affects women and girls remains necessary, reasons why all hands must be on deck to stem the rising pandemic.

The State Coordinator said the place of policy in fighting GBV cannot be overemphasized, and appreciated by men who are now beginning to recognize the negative impact of GBV.

In her remarks, the Kogi State Commissioner For Women Affairs, Hajia Fatima Buba was represented by the director of Women Affairs Mrs. Morturayo described GBV as a pandemic and said the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law would help check GBV.

She stressed that more needs to be done concerning GBV, advocated Gender Responsive Budgeting, Advocacy, and funding, and called for unity amongst the stakeholders towards multi-sectoral approaches to influence activities that would stem the tide against GBV.

In a presentation on the Overview of Gender Based Violence GBV in Nigeria by Barr. Ajums Lilian Okolo, Chairperson of FIDA, says the fight against GBV requires all hands to be on deck, says Gender refers to the male and female.

She described perpetrators of GBV as people who wield power and described the fight against GBV as a fight for all and said the need to strengthen policies as a panacea remains sacrosanct in the fight against GBV.

Barr. Lilian lamented that one in every three women experience GBV, ascribed it to societal factors, pointing out that it cuts across all strata of society.

She listed power imbalance as a cause of GBV, said it could be emotional, economic, psychological, Sexual, or physical, said it can also come in subtle forms, and said efforts at reforms have become expedient.

She advocated an amulti-sectorall approach to curbing GBV, described sexual offense GBV as one that is on the rise, and Advocated legal reforms, and community engagement.

Other aspects of GBV she added are early marriages, female genital mutilation, said government, CSOs, and implementing multi-sectoral approaches and strategies to stem the tide of GBV using the VAPP Law.

Highlights of the event were goodwill messages from Alhaji Mohammed Wandana of JNI, Pastor Mrs Lola Gbogbo, and members of the Civil society, who all advocated a safer society by working together to stem the rising cases of GBV.

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