NAWOJ urges govt to implement violence against women laws

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) has called on government at all levels to implement laws preventing violence against women.

The Vice President of NAWOJ in the Southwest, B’ Zone, Ayaba Omobola Akingbehin made the call in her message to mark this year’s International Day of Violence Against Women and Girls.

This is contained in a statement signed
by the Zonal Secretary NAWOJ, Funmi Adekoya in Lagos.

Akingbehin described violence against women and girls as one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations globally which remained largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

She said that violence against women continued to be an obstacle to achieving peace, equality, development, as well as to the fulfilment of women and girls’ human rights.

According to her, the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals – to leave no one behind – cannot be fulfilled without putting an end to violence against women and girls.

She, therefore, called for stiffer penalties for violators of women and girls right as a measure to curb violence against women and girls.

“It is saddening that women and girls across the world still suffer violence in silence.

“If we must curb violence against women and girls, there must be stiffer penalties for violators,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the NAWOJ B’Zone would be organising a programme tagged “Orange the World: Let’s stop Violence Against Women in Our Communities “, on Dec. 3, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The programme is part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, to mark this year’s International Day of Violence against Women and Girls.