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Summary
The 2024 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence was launched in Abuja with a call for collective action to address the pervasive issue of GBV in Nigeria. Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised the need for multi-sectoral efforts, media collaboration, and community involvement to protect women, girls, and vulnerable groups while fostering a violence-free society.
In observance of the 2024 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a joint press briefing and flag-off activities were held at the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja, Nigeria, on Nov. 25.
The event, aimed at raising awareness and taking action against GBV, began with a welcome address from Amb. Gabriel T. Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, followed with a briefing on global and local initiatives to combat GBV.
In her keynote speech, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasised that the occasion offers a critical opportunity to renew national commitments and deliberate efforts to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of women, girls, and vulnerable groups across Nigeria. She stressed that GBV is not just a women’s issue but a societal and human rights issue and a significant impediment to national development.
The Minister expressed concern over the deeply troubling statistics on GBV in Nigeria and called for collective action to address the issue.
“Gender-based violence is an impediment to national development,” she said. “We must approach this challenge with a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder strategy.”
She highlighted the crucial role of media partners in the campaign, urging them to amplify survivors’ voices, showcase success stories, and hold perpetrators accountable. She also called for an end to victim-blaming, which she described as harmful and counterproductive.
Outlining the activities planned for the 16-day campaign, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim detailed initiatives such as seminars, sensitisation campaigns, school visits, media engagements, and capacity-building workshops. These efforts aim to raise awareness, educate the public, and empower young girls, especially in rural communities, to help prevent GBV in Nigeria.
In her closing remarks, the Minister assured that under her tenure, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs remains committed to its coordinating role in ensuring that issues of GBV are strategically addressed and documented for effective policy action.
“We must remain steadfast in our pursuit of a Nigeria where women and girls live free from violence and discrimination. It is a necessity for shared and collective prosperity,” the Minister said.
She further emphasised,
“Violence against children and girls is preventable. It is our collective responsibility as government agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, media, and individuals to join these activities to foster a sense of shared effort to make our communities free from violence.”
The launch event marked a renewed commitment to tackling GBV and ensuring a safer, more equitable Nigeria.
