From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly has been called upon to ensure the speedy passage of the Kogi State Violence Against Person Prohibition Bill, which has since gone through the Public Hearing.
Mrs Lola Balagbogbo, a Chief Lecturer with the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja made the call in Agbaja over the weekend at a SARVE II project Women summit on preventing violent extremism with the theme: Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.
The programme which was organized by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative For Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), was part of the activities that marked the 2021 international women’s day.
Balagbogbo said Globally, 7 per cent of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than their partner.
According to her, globally, as many as 38 per cent of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
She hinted that about 200 million women have ‘experienced female genital mutilation/cutting.
Speaking further, Balagbogbo averred that, “Gender-based violence (GBV) is a human rights violation, a public health challenge, and a barrier to civic, social, political, and economic participation. It undermines not only the safety, dignity, overall health status, and human rights of the millions of individuals who experience it, but also the public health, economic stability, and security of nations.
“Gender-based violence (GBV) or violence against women and girls (VAWG), is a global pandemic that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. The numbers are staggering: 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence”.
She said during this COVID-19 pandemic, much women were exposed to gender based violence.
” Some women are forced by their husband to have sexual intercourse with them which is not supposed to be so. In Enugu State, it was learnt that about 84 men slept with their own daughter which is totally barbaric and unacceptable. We have some barbaric practice in our communities, which has a negative impacts on the lives of women in the society.
” It is important to state that if they continue to keep quiet just because they don’t want to dent their family name, this will continue. Many women are loosing their lives everyday because of the unfair treatment melted on women which must be put to a stop” she added.
The chief lecturer added that Women are leaders in the society and should always maintain a pedestal of nation building and should not be seen as a piece of rag or punching bag.
She however, maintained that women had over the years failed to assist one another especially those seeking for elective position stressing that it is time for women to speak out and fight for their right in a bid to an end to violence against women in the world.
” Women are enemies of themselves simply because they hardly support each other when ever their counterparts are bold enough to contest for elective positions. This must stop. We have many women who are occupying juicy positions and has made the world proud. Look, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, is the latest example.
On the way forward, Balagbogbo called for increase awareness of the scope of the problem and its impact, improve services for survivors of violence and strengthen prevention efforts.
“Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, race, Class, religion, education level, and international borders. An estimated one in three women worldwide has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Although statistics on the prevalence of violence vary, the scale is tremendous, the scope is vast, and the consequences for individuals, families, communities, and countries are devastating.
“Its vital to promote the rights of all individuals and reduce gender based violence while mitigating its harmful effects on individuals and communities Unless women, girls, men, and boys fully enjoy their human rights an
