IBADAN – Government at all levels, as well as critical stakeholders have been charged to step up war on violence against women and girl child in our society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In her keynote address at a program commemorating the year 2022 International Day for elimination of violence against Women, Dr. Olajumoke Akere urged government and other stakeholders on strengthening women’s individual and collective voices for empowerment, and also reduce their vulnerability in the society.
An Educationist, Dr. Olajumoke Akere who was the chairperson of the occasion that was held at Ibadan, the Capital City of Oyo state while speaking on Gender Based Violence maintained that all forms of violence, be it physical, sexual and psychological are inimical to the wellbeing of women, no matter their positions in the society.
She said, “Unless violence against women and girls is completely eradicated, at least 14 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be achieved, according to a new report by The Equality Institute (EQI) out this week”.
“All in all, the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to leave no one behind cannot be fulfilled without putting an end to violence against women and girl.
Dr. Akere added that Violence against women and girls has been linked to poverty, maternal death, hunger, poor health and education, climate change adaptation, energy and environmental burdens, societal insecurity and economic hardships.
While speaking on sexual violence, which is the theme for this year celebration, Dr. Akere disclosed that the period of the pandemic witnessed increase in the spate of sexual violence globally and more needs to be done to address it
“Violence Against Women and Girls affect women at all stages of their life and so continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development, peace as well as to the fulfillment of women and girls’ human rights.”
Akere however declared that all efforts and Initiative should be geared to respond to all forms of Violence Against Women and Girls, with a particular focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labor) exploitation
Summary- https://independent.ng/step-up-campaign-on-violence-against-women-girl-child-don-appeals-to-govt-stakeholders/