The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have demanded swift actions to end gender-based violence in commemoration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence.
They made the demand on Tuesday, during a sit-in protest, against the rising incidents of femicide and gender-based violence at the Nigeria Bar Association in Ikeja.
The President of the AWLA, Mrs Mandy Asagba, said there was the need for the emancipation and freedom of women from gender based violence.
According to her, there will be sanity in the land as soon as government makes up its mind about tackling the basic problems.
“A happy woman only produces happy children,” she said.
She said that the country must be safe for all, adding that government must go the extra mile to protect women and children.
She said: “In a divorce case, why must the woman be the one to leave the home?
“In Nigeria, the woman is asked to leave the home with the children.
“So, a woman who is not working, who is a housewife, who lives all her life depending on her husband, divorce happens, throw her out, throw the children out.
“No child will be on the street if the home front is protected.”
Mrs Anthonia Ojenagbon, Founder of Tonia Bruised but Not Broken, on her part, said the protest was to air their views and to talk about the injustice that had been happening to women.
Ojenagbon said the women lawyers were tired of cases being dragged on, as a result of the courts not sitting, thereby leading to denial of justice.
“On Sept. 24 and Sept. 25, we were in court, but it did not sit.
“We are tired of cases being dragged on.
“Nigeria at 64 and Nigerian women are not happy.
“Nigeria at 64, Nigerian women are tired of being treated as second-class fiddle, in their own country,” she said.
She added that the purpose of the protest was to seek for justice for women who had lost their lives through domestic violence, using late Bimbo Ogbonna, as a case study.
“We are also asking for justice for a woman who was arrested for a different case at a police station.
“She was called out at night by a policeman and she was raped in a place where she was supposed to be safe,” Ojenagbon said.
Mrs Toyin Taiwo-Ojo, Founder of Stop The Abuse Against Women And Children Foundation, urged government to increase funding for Juvenile and Women’s Centres, Family Support Units, Gender Offices Women Shelter and other support services.
Taiwo-Ojo called for community education, sensitisation programmes to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and justice for victims and their families.
The lawyer also lauded the Lagos State Government on its efforts to eradicate gender based violence.
Taiwo-Ojo said: “Are police departments underfunded? Are perpetrators walking free?
“Are women’s lives not prioritised and are special courts for sexual offenders scarce?
“Why do we normalise violence against women and blame the victim?
“We will not be silenced or intimidated and we will demand justice, equality, safety for all women.”
She added that the advocacy groups would not rest until Nigeria was safe for every woman.
Another woman advocate, Ms Salome Mathias, called on women to put their hands together and support one another.
Mathias noted that women should come together and fight for their rights.
She also reiterated the need for government to look into cases of gender-based violence in the county.
“We are pleading with the government to please put in more effort and look into these cases.
“It is happening every day in Nigeria.
“We are begging on the government to come to our ai and look into this,” she said. (NAN)
