The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said women and girls have continued to experience various forms of violence despite documents and protocols that are in place to promote and protect their rights.
The commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, stated this known on Wednesday in Abuja during an awareness walk to kick off the 16-days of activism on violence against women and girls which commenced on Wednesday.
He said that between March and June 2020, the Commission received and treated 232 cases of various forms of violence against women and girls from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
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He said the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence cuts across class, geography, culture, etc., and that it is associated with negative impacts that impede progress in many areas of lives including Nigeria’s obligation to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ojukwu lamented that violence has subjected women to poverty, hunger, health-related issues, education, gender inequality, adding that despite the already high incidence of cases of violations against women and girls, there was an alarming increase of violations that were recorded following the lockdown which was occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic.
He disclosed that to show commitment to ending the menace, the Commission in collaboration with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) launched a mobile app called UNSUB, a platform that connects survivors of SGBV to service providers.
He explained that the platform provides information on access to support system for survivors of SGBV, and urged everyone to leverage on the use of technology in providing support for survivors.
The human rights boss called on relevant stakeholders to effectively play their roles in preventing and eliminating violence against women noting that the theme of the 16 days of Activism; Orange the world: fund, respond, prevent collect is a wake-up campaign for all.
Daily Independent
