Members of the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State chapter and other civil society groups have started a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence in the country.
The advocacy which is based on the theme: “Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape,” kicked off at various locations in Ikot Ekpene, Eket and Uyo metropolis.
In Uyo, members of FIDA and other civil society groups gathered at the Water Fountain along Nwanniba Road, IBB/Aka Road Roundabout and Itam Junction Roundabout.
Other points included Ibom Plaza and Idong Esit Nkana Secretariat Complex Roundabout.
The campaign also took place by Mobil Mart in Eket and Urua Tor in Ikot Ekpene.
In a message by FIDA’s Country Vice President, Rhoda Tyoden and National Publicity Secretary, Eliana Martins, the group said the 2019 campaign focused on rape.
It said rape was chosen because of its high prevalence rate and because it affects all categories and ages of women and children.
Quoting the UNWomen, it said 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced physical and or sexual violence in their lifetime while 11 per cent of Nigerian women have experienced physical and or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the last one year.
“We note the reported cases of rape, defilement and violence not to mention the numerous incidents which go unreported for reasons such as the culture of silence, the stigmatisation of survivors, the fear of intimidation and so forth,” the group said.
“FIDA Nigeria, based on these overwhelming reports and data, has played a paramount and active role, and even hosted the secretariat of the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence against Women (LACVAW), all to ensure the enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act (2015) which in better details codifies the law, protects the victim and punishes the offender.
“FIDA strongly commends and celebrates the following states which have so far enacted the equivalent of the VAPP Act namely Lagos, Edo, Oyo, Anambra, Cross River, Ekiti, Kaduna, Enugu, Ebonyi, Adamawa and Benue states, while calling on the remaining States of the Federation to proceed with dispatch to Adopt and implement the VAPP Act (2015),” the group stated.
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It said the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, is a landmark legislation on the prohibition of all forms of violence against persons, especially the marginalised Nigerians.
FIDA argued that the new law is an improvement on the Criminal and Penal Codes operational in Southern and Northern Nigeria respectively.
With over 2,500 volunteer female lawyers spread across 32 branches in Nigeria, FIDA said it is working towards the elimination of every form of violence against women,
Consequently, as part of the 16 days activism, the group said it will carry out several programmes including legal clinics, activism march, advocacy visits and rallies.
Other activities will be media and schools outreaches, sensitisation and mobilisation programs as well as capacity building for key stakeholders, community influencers, faith-based organisations and other groups on the ills of violence against women.
Continuing, the group said, “FIDA shall continue in strategic engagement and advocacy campaigns with other key influencers so as to effectively drive the process necessary for the adoption and effective implementation of the VAPP law in all the states of the Federation.
“FIDA Nigeria, therefore, calls on all stakeholders to play an active part in the sensitisation, prevention, protection and enforcement to ensure the elimination of these ills in our society.
“As we kick-off, we call on all good meaning individuals, stakeholders and groups to join us, as we look into, speak out and take practical, effective, and proactive steps to eliminate all forms of Gender-Based Violence in the country.”
It also called on all to stand together to fight rape and other forms of violence perpetrated on our women; whether young or old.
It, however, generated nine hashtags to drive the campaign:
#AcceptanceNotRejection,
#SupportNotOpposition
#EncouragementNotDiscouragement
#RespectNotRape
#VenerationNotViolation
#StopAllFormsOfViolenceAgainstWomen
#NoMeansNo
#OrangetheWorldStopGenderBasedViolence
#GenerationEqualityStandsAgainstRape
