NAWOJ Marks 16- Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women, Seeks Equal Opportunities for Women and Respect for Dignity
Dateline: November 25 to December 10
Theme: Unite: Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.
Gender-based Violence(GBV) is estimated to affect 1 in 3 women worldwide. This is a gloomy statistics and despite efforts being put in by gender advocates globally, more still needs to be done.
As social change agents, we have a duty. Considering the enormity of the burden of Gender-based Violence, it is time to heighten awareness by speaking up and giving women opportunities to tell their stories too.
It is therefore pertinent not only on women and girls but on family institutions and the society at large.
As journalists, our duty is, among others, to ensure that we amplify the inherent dangers in GBV.
We join the global community by raising our voices in describing the phenomenon as a global pandemic, even as we also state clearly and firmly that it is a systemic crisis that needs be urgently annihilated.
While calling on all women, men, governments and institutions at all levels to rise up to this challenge by taking certain sure steps in preventing Gender Based Violence, we call for enabling Laws, necessary reforms, the strengthening of all relevant institutions including the judiciary, correctional centers, health centers, rehabilitation facilities, among others.
These actions and more are necessary and will help alleviate the burden of Gender-based Violence in the society.
We need all hands on deck.
Aisha Ibrahim K Bura
National Chairperson
Wasilah Ibrahim Ladan
Secretary