Poverty increases women’s risk of gender-based violence – NHRC

 

The Human Rights Commission is worried that with over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, thousands of women and children are violated daily, noting that this is a challenge that requires the input of everyone to curb the menace.

Speaking with DAILY POST in Bauchi, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, in a statement to mark the commemoration of 2022 International Human Rights Day, said this year’s celebration is timely, considering that the millions of out-of-school children, the millions of people internally displaced by conflicts and floods across is a cause for concern.

He said the day is set aside by the United Nations for “introspection on values of human life, dignity, equality and freedom of human beings regardless of our peculiar circumstances.”

“For NHRC, as a national institution established for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria, this year’s celebration amplifies the plight of over a 133million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty, the millions of out-of-school children (highest in the world), the millions of our brothers and sisters internally displaced by conflicts and floods across the country, the thousands of women and children, survivors of gender-based violence as challenges requiring the collective solutions by all,” he said.

While reading the message of the Executive Secretary, the Bauchi coordinator of the NHRC, Yahcit Suzan Dala, explained that the Day was preceded by a series of activities to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence against women and children from 25th November to 10th December, which includes advocacy visit to traditional and religious leaders, visits to schools, CSOs, speaker of the state house of assembly and NBA/FIDA among others.

She said her office partnered with major stakeholders including the Bauchi State Government to create awareness of the dangers of SGBV, adding that most survivors are afraid to speak because perpetrators are known to them.

“One of the main factors of SGBV is the misunderstanding of women and girls. It is a collective effort, nobody can do it alone. We work in collaboration with key stakeholders, medical personnel, the judiciary, law enforcement and CSOs.

“The effort is to sensitise people about the menace, to advocate for the passage of some laws about the menace and not just the passage but to make sure that there is the implementation of such laws,” she stated.

Dala called on the government and all stakeholders to galvanize action against the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).