Reducing Violence Against Women And Girls

Reducing Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)is gradually becoming a global ashtag. In public fora, print and electronic media, the ‘how’ to reduce the wave of violence against women and girls now dominates agenda and programmes more than ever.
This concern stems from the spate of kidnappings and abductions across the states of the federation in addition to violence and conflict for which women and girls have remained vulnerable to its effects, as they are often the first to suffer and the last to be protected. Although Chibok incidence highlighted this trend, it wasn’t the first neither has it become the last time that girls would be the target of exploitation and violence in Nigeria.
However, some social analysts have posited that the much ado about violence against women and girls may remain endless, should the society  continue in its reactionary posture rather than a preventive one, in its effort at combating the menace.
In the face of social stigma and emotional trauma that the victims of violence go through, they are reluctant to report acts of violence by bringing perpetrators to justice, many are scared of how they would be looked at should they publicise their ordeal, thus they are forced to hide their pains in shame. But for how long will this continue?
Fortunately, some notable efforts have been spotted in this direction. Over the past three years, the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program (NSRP) and the Fund for Peace (FFP) in collaboration with partners across eight target states in Nigeria, have been on the wheels to ensure increased reporting and awareness about violence affecting women and girls.
They suggest that only a proactive measure would seem to signal a light at the end of the tunnel as this culture of silence has long pervaded the landscape.
Just last week, the city of Port Harcourt played host to a 2-day workshop on reducing violence against women and girls through conflict early warning, facilitated by partnership initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN). The event which brought together stakeholders from the public, private and non-governmental organisations; shared ideas and collaborations on responding to violence against women and girls.
One thought that was stressed, points to the fact that violence against women has lingered inspite of campaigns from various angles against it because those at the fore-front of the campaigns merely emphasise  gender, without leveraging on early warning for faster response.
The Cordinator of Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, Mr Nkasi Wodu, said lack of early earnings has been the bane of efforts towards eradication of violence against women and girls. In his view, early warning creates room for preventive response, and not the reactional type that the society is used to.
In her own speech, the scribe of the Medical Women Association, Rivers State, Dr Vetty Agala, pointed out culture/tradition, conflict situation, ignorance and low economic empowerment of women as core drivers of violence against women. She emphasized that the culture of stigma and silence must be broken for a result-oriented fight against violence on women and girls.
Meanwhile, publisher of National Point Newspaper, Constance Meju, has called for a follow up on police gender desk. Contributing to the forum’s discussion, Meju said it is time the society moved from merely sensitizing the women on their rights, to enforcing the laws on the right of women and children.
Corroborating her thought, the leader of women journalists in the state, Mrs Okonkwo-Ogabu Lilian, said enforcement of the law on violence against women and girls where perpetrators would be brought to book, remains the only pancea to curbing violence against women and girls.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi