Hajia Lami Adamu Lau, the President of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), has passionately implored the federal government to allocate resources and systematically devise effective policies and strategies to eradicate gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Her plea was articulated during a significant event in Abuja, commemorating the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, underscoring the paramount importance of concerted actions in addressing this societal menace.
Lau comprehensively underscored the pivotal role that strategic investments play in proactively averting incidences of violence. She emphasized that nurturing an atmosphere of equality necessitates substantial support for educational initiatives, enlightening awareness crusades, community involvement, and the establishment of robust support frameworks.
The theme of this year’s event, “Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls,” serves as a clarion call to the federal government, private sector stakeholders, and community leaders to prioritise allocation of resources and purposefully construct gender-sensitive budgets. This would facilitate the funding of transformative interventions aimed at combating gender-based violence.
In addition to the urgent plea for resource allocation, the President of NCWS advocated for the appointment of more women in leadership and decision-making positions to bridge the prevailing economic and power differentials.
Furthermore, she advocated for a comprehensive review of gender-related bills at the National Assembly, a supplementary budget to accommodate the swift implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, a robust revision of the National Gender Policy, and the systematic economic empowerment of women.
It is her conviction that the fulfillment of these demands will undoubtedly contribute significantly to the cessation of violent acts perpetrated against women, thereby fostering a safer and more equitable society for all.
