The Country Vice/National President,International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA)Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Agbaje, has condemned grassroot structures that escalates violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
According to her, the practices is fueled by complex interplay of faith, culture and other social factors in the country.
The FIDA President in Nigeria, in her welcome note, said the discriminatory traditions and subjugation of women and girls as second class citizens or even as properties that can be traded should not be encouraged.
She spoke in Ado-Ekiti at Afe Babalola Bar Centre, on “the Annual Dialogue for State Council of Traditional Leaders on Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls 2024 which was sponsored by Ford Foundation.
Represented by Ekiti State Chairperson, Mrs. Oyinade Olatunbosun, added that the intension of the dialogue is basically on prevention and not response.
According to her, a lot of responses have been put in place to give respite to the people with the GBV but for this dialogue, it is about prevention.
Agbaje, pointed out that it is expected that our traditional and cultural leaders will serve as change agents and advocates of women and girls and work collaboratively through shared knowledge of local realities in reviewing and implementing policies and practices that prevent GBV in their communities.
“the dialogue will gravitate towards a shift in attitudinal behaviors and abandonment of social norms, cultural practices that subjugate the right of women and girls in Nigeria local communities in Plateau, Lagos and Ekiti States”.
The Project Team Leader, Ford Foundation, West Africa, Rita Lasoju, commended Ekiti State for progressing in women traditional Chiefs.
She pointed out that the dialogue is meant for prevention and for the communities to amplify and developed action plans in their communities to stop harmful practices against women.
The Project Manager, Mr. Vicky Obaro, pointed out that Ekiti have started taking efforts to protect women in our community, saying it is time for the state to combat issues of women violence in Ekiti.
“Let us stop GBV from happening in our community. Also, for people to share experiences in their various communities to be safe and secured”.
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