Funke Busari, Lagos
To end the menace of violence against women and girls, Women Advocates Research And Documentation Centre, WARDC on Thursday called for stakeholders’ collaboration at a dialogue in Lagos.
The event was part of WARDC’s activities to mark 16 Days of Activism of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.
WARDC, a non-governmental, human rights organisation in the frontline of human rights promotion and protection of women‘s rights and the rule of law in Nigeria, through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative expressed that collaborative efforts is critical to ending the scourge.
The Executive Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, at the annual event said this year’s theme; ‘Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!’, speaks to the necessity of having improved collaborations between various sectors to address gender-based violence.
One of the panelists, Executive Director, Hansatu Adegbite of Women In Management, Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, aligned with Akiyode-Afolabi on the importance of synergy to combat Violence Against Women and Girls, VAWG.
She disclosed that findings from personal researches indicated that sexual harassment is limiting women professionally and otherwise, especially when male superiors deprived the women folks promotion and other benefits in workplaces because they rejected lewd advances.
She frowned at the victimization and expressed readiness to further assist WARDC in her work to protect women from such violations.
Habiba Balogun, the Principal Consultant Habiba Balogun Consulting, during the panel discussions identified that fear prevents staff from reporting sexual harassment in workplaces.
While Dr. Omopeju Afanu, Managing Partners, BSquare Management Consult was of the view that ending VAWG requires that organisations should have anti-harassment policies and campaigns as well as train staff to understand what constitutes sexual harassment and penalties.
Veteran journalist, Bimbo Oloyede said the fight against VAWG also requires cooperation on the part of the media and stressed that organisations should elicit such media cooperation.
She opined that both formal and informal channels should be employed in the struggle.
According to her, stakeholders in the fight should create stories that could get attention and ensure they maintain productive visibility.
Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director, Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism proposed that beyond information, education and entertainment, stakeholders must collaborate with journalists who are interested in issues concerning women, be focused on their environment, fund knowledge and provide information that is newsworthy.
Counteracting the notions that culture and religions are cloaks under which perpetrators mete violence on women and girls, Rev. Sam Aiyedogbon, Realms of Glory International Church, Mohammed Mas’ud Imam Kawu, Secretary General Council of Imams, Lagos Mainland and High Chief Josiah Balogun, Baale of Oko Oba, Orile-Agege, who were panelists at the dialogue disagreed on the position, citing various scriptural verses and examples in the holy books, frowning at mistreatment or violence against women and girls.
Conclusively, Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Lagos State expressed goodwill message through Mudirakat Motunrayo Kasali, by commending WARDC on the effort to eliminate gender-based violence from the State, to achieve the full potentials socially, physically, economically and politically.
