By Asma’u Ahmad
A gender advocacy groups has called for intensified campaign against violence on women and children.
The groups made the call at a mentoring session held at the American Corner in Ibadan to mark the International Day against Domestic Violence on Women and Children.
The programme was jointly organised by Mentoring Assistance for Youth and Entrepreneurs Initiative (MAYEIN) and Nigeria Society for Information, Arts and Culture (NSIAC).
Founder of MAYEIN, Mrs. Edem Ossai said the programme was organised to alert the children and re-awaken the consciousness of women on such violence.
Mrs. Ossai stressed the need for the people to always be conscious of their rights, adding that the realities on ground reflected that the female gender had remained objects of domestic violence and inhuman treatment.
Similarly, Ms. Abiade Abiola, a lead discussant at the event quoted the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), as saying that one out of every five Nigerian women had experienced one form of violence or the
other.
She stated that such violence was not just the physical but could be financial, emotional and psychological.
Ms. Abiola stressed that several laws had been enacted against violence on persons but had not been effective due to ignorance, stigmatisation, public outlook of court system and uncooperative attitude of security agencies.
“Every Nigerian has fundamental rights, among which are the right to life, dignity and property. These are rights to be enjoyed irrespective of the gender”, she said.
She said Violence against Persons Act in Nigeria criminalises all forms of violence or discrimination against a person physically, emotionally, financially or psychologically.
Abiola stated that groups had advocated the establishment of family courts to reduce dependence on the conventional courts, adding that such was underway in Oyo State.
Mrs Abiola Olawale, a discussant, urged the people to always speak out at every incident of violence or rape to get help from concerned authorities.
“Let us gather and shame the shameless ones. We have to expose and shame the perpetrators. When a rapist is exposed, others will avoid such occurrence. The only way to have people stand for you is to stand for them,” she said.
The Coordinator of American Corner, Ibadan (ACI), Mrs. Adejoke Scott-Emuakpor, stated that the corner was established to promote mutual understanding between the people of the host country and the US people.
She stated that ACI holds public lectures, training, book reading clubs, conversations cafe, contests, and summer reading programmes, round table discussions and film shows.
Scott-Emuakpor urged Nigerians to take advantage of the laudable programs and facilities at the corner to develop selves.
The event featured video shows, drama and tutoring of youths on the various advocacy strategies.
