By Asmau Ahmad
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Tuesday called for action against all forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria and around the world.
The Fund’s Country Representative, Ms Ulla Mueller, said it was time to end human rights violations against women and girls.
Mueller made the call at the official launch of “Call to Action,” on protection from Gender-Based Violence Emergencies in Abuja.
She recalled the gory experiences of women and girls as a result of their vulnerability and called for an end to it.
She said “my entire life, I have witnessed daughters, mothers, sisters, friends whose human rights were violated.
“Women and girls who denied the right to protection, the right to justice.”
The UN official, who recalled that the call to action was established in 2013, added that much needed to be done to end GBV.
Mr Mathias Schmale, the UN Resident Coordinator, expressed the commitment of the UN system to assist Nigeria to end GBV.
Schmale affirmed the determination of the UN to continue supporting Nigeria’s judicial process aimed at holding perpetrators accountable.
He said “UN is here to support government in ending Gender Based Violence.
“Our commitment at the UN is to support the leadership of the country in showing leadership.”
He dismissed calls for capital punishment as a way of addressing GBV, saying that the UN globally stood against capital punishment.
“The UN has a worldwide position against capital punishment for many reasons.
“We must ensure justice for survivors; we are not for capital punishment but for clear justice.”
Mr Sune Krogstrup, Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, reassured his country’s support for Nigeria in ending GBV.
Krogstrup, who described women and girls as vulnerable persons, said “protecting them is imperative.
“We know that women and girls are vulnerable in conflicts, they need protection and they need special attention.”
Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, had pledged Nigeria’s commitment to ending the menace.
She said “we all know that women and girls are vulnerable, with your commitment and support, I see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Tallen, who described “the Call to Action,” as accountability, assured of addressing all the cases of GBV through the judicial process.
She added that “Call to Action is about accountability, we will ensure that cases before us are addressed.”
