Gender-Based Violence Is Societal Failure – Presidency

In the spirit of the global 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Presidency has described it as a scourge and a sign of societal failure.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement (North Central), Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, decried that one out of three women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

Mrs. Abiodun stated this on Thursday while delivering the keynote address on “The Role of the Community in Combating Gender-based Violence” organized by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), at UN House in Abuja.

She said gender-based violence is a tragedy that undermines victims’ rights and dignity and erodes the fabric of society.

“Gender-based violence is not just a personal tragedy; it is a societal failure. It is a scourge that violates the fundamental rights of individuals, undermines their dignity, and erodes the fabric of our communities.

“Globally, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
Together, we can break the cycle of silence, restore hope, and ensure that future generations inherit a world free from the scourge of gender-based violence,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, in a statement, in line with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, highlighted the statistics that a girl or woman is killed around the world every 10 minutes.

Yilwatda described the sad statistics as a crisis that demands urgent action.

“Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed or abused. This urgent crisis demands action. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a call to end all forms of violence against women and girls—because there is no excuse.

“As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, let’s renew our commitment to a world where women and girls live free from fear and violence,” Yilwatda stated.