Violence Against Women
Source: Premium Times
The Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program, NSRP, on Monday urged state governments to adopt new strategies for the reduction of violence against women.
NSRP is a five year British council programme, aimed at supporting Nigerian stakeholders and institutions to manage conflicts non-violently and reduce the impact of violent conflict on the most vulnerable population.
A Gender Advisor of the programme, Eleanor Nwadinobi, in a statement, commended the Nigerian government for its efforts in the development of a National Action Plan, NAP, for the inclusion of women in the process of peace building, conflict resolution and management.
Ms. Nwadinobi said attention must be drawn towards operationalizing the plan at the various states in the country.
She said a NAP will help address issues of conflict as it concerns women during and after the conflicts.
“We urgently need to move from rhetoric to reality to improve the lives of the women of Nigeria,” Ms. Eleanor said.
A sensitization seminar will be hosted by the NSRP to mark the International Women’s Day, IWD, on March 6.
The IWD 2014 themed: “Women, Peace and Security: the Missing MDG,” is expected to bring Civil Society Organizations, human rights activists, Ministry of Women’s Affairs and women from all walks of life together, to help grow awareness on the contents of the National Action Plan.
IWD is a day when women and men celebrate progress made to achieve women’s rights and a call for increased action in deepening and sustaining these achievements.
Discussions on this year’s event will be centred on contents of the NAP, ways to include women’s rights in conflict prevention and peace building efforts in Nigeria, as well as call on relevant decision makers at the state level to draw up an implementation plan.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development has promised to work with other ministries to ensure there is peace for all in Nigeria – girls, women, boys and men.
NAP, if implemented, is also expected to prevent violence against women and girls, strengthen prosecution of perpetrators, ensure women fully participate in decision making and guarantee that the needs and realities of women and girls are addressed in peace building efforts.