The United States on Wednesday advised the federal government to address the issue of gender-based violence, saying that its neglect would have grave consequences on the growth of the society.
Public Affairs Counsellor of the US Embassy, Ms Victoria Sloan, gave the advice at the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in a video and panel discussion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the programme was part of the activities to raise awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue. “Gender-based violence takes many forms and results in physical, sexual and psychological harm to both women and men.
“It cuts across ethnic, racial, socioeconomic and religious lines. It knows no borders. It occurs in Nigeria and the US, as well as every other nation,” she said. Sloan said that globally, one in three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
“Gender-based violence ruptures families. It breeds poverty and instability, and it can prevent women and girls and the entire communities from realising their full potential.
“Society as a whole pays a huge price for gender-based violence in the areas of health, justice, economic and international security,” she added.
Sloan also said that to stop the global scourge of gender-based violence, it would require cooperation from all of us to take action.
According to her, the society must recognise that gender-based violence is a manifestation of the low status of women and girls around the world.
She said that when women and girls could live free from violence and afford equal opportunities in education, healthcare, employment and political participation, “they can become agents of change.”
Sloan explained that ending gender-based violence would require empowering women and girls to speak up for themselves.
The counselor said it would require educating men and boys to speak out for their mothers, wives, partners, sisters and daughters.
She added that it would also require adequate legal and judicial frameworks to eradicate the menace in the society.
Sloan said that the video clip by Jackson Katz, titled “Violence Against Women-It’s a Men’s Issue,” showed that domestic violence and sexual abuses are often called “women’s issues.”
The programme had a panel of two clerics, Imam Faud Adeyemi and Pastor Olanrewaju Osho, a human rights activist, Mr Olukayode Shobanjo, and a lawyer, Mrs Esther Obianju.
NAN reports that the panelists addressed issues about gender-based violence from religious, human rights and legal perspectives.