Violence against women and girls remains the most acute form of gender inequality in Nigeria and tneed for special protection of the feminine gender cannot be over-emphasized. Under the law, lies a rational belief that every human being is entitled to equal consideration and respect. But in recent times in Nigeria, there have been several cases of violence against women and girls, which most times are unreported despite their pervasiveness.
Considering the increase in reported cases of violence and abuse against women, the first lady of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, who was special guest at the fifth year memorial anniversary forum for Prof. Jadesola Olayinka Akande, stressed urgent need for reform of the country’s laws in that area.
While speaking on the title “Uniting to End Violence against Women and Girls” at the event held at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Mrs. Fashola pointed out that there are institutional problems militating against the advocacy for women abuse, noting that such problems are inefficiency of law enforcement agencies and difficulties with the judicial system.
In her words: “Considering the increase in reported cases of violence and abuse against women, there is urgent need for reform of our laws. There are of course institutional problems, such as the inefficiency of law enforcement agencies and the difficulties with the judicial system and access to it.
“We need to adequately train and equip law enforcement agents to be able to enforce the law that convicted persons do not escape the full wrath of the law in order to serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
“In cases of rape, social issues like stigmatization and the difficulty of proof, often requiring strong medical and forensic evidence, have sometimes left victims with the choice of silence instead of the stigma that a failed prosecution may likely bring.”
She maintained that forced and early marriage, civil unrest etc also contribute to violence against women in our society, adding that poverty or lack of economic power have made a lot of women totally dependent on men.
Violence against women remains a global issue, which the United Nations General Assembly defined as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or likely to result in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to a woman, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or private life.
According to her, the way forward is: “to promote mutual respect among both sexes; and create a society where no one is disadvantaged or treated with less or no dignity on the basis of gender.”
The Lagos first lady mince words as she asserted that the protection of women and child from violence would be a suitable responsibility for community of State Police if it is created because these are largely local problems.
She further said: “Violence against women and girls cannot be fought and won by women alone. It requires the active participation of men who are husbands, fathers, uncles, cousins, brothers and sons of the violated and abused women and young girls.
“Every man of good conscience and honour must rise and speak out against the ills of these acts. We must be a part of the street rallies and speak out alongside the women organizations that are involved in denouncing this terrible act.”
No doubt, some of the laws applicable in Nigeria vis-à-vis the different aspects of violence against women need to be revisited, so as to curb the increasing violence against women and girls. These laws include the Criminal Code and the Penal Code, Sharia (Muslim Personal Laws in Nigeria) after the Maliki School, and Customary Laws which vary from place to place in Nigeria.
Violence against women is unconstitutional in Nigeria and should be illegal in any of its forms. The most common form of abuse against women and girls is rape, which is defined as unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl without her consent.
Source: Vanguard
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