NiGWF, UN Women Initiate Actions To End Violence Against Women, Girls

UN Women, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF), organised a two-day capacity-building workshop on Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) for first-time first ladies from 19 Nigerian states as part of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls.

The workshop aimed to improve the First Ladies’ understanding of gender, gender-based violence, and its psychosocial impact, as well as to explore survivor-centered approaches for intervening in SGBV cases, highlighting the First Ladies’ unique roles in leading efforts to end violence against women and girls in their states.

The workshop which ended on Friday in Abuja, was one of the critical interventions of the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative which sought to eliminate all forms of violence and harmful practices through women’s movement building to work together, provide support and resources towards addressing the causes and effects of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

The collaboration between UN Women and NGWF aimed to share best practices and empower First Ladies to take proactive measures against SGBV through advocacy, awareness campaigns, and context-specific initiatives.

These efforts align with ongoing initiatives to end violence against women and girls, including the EU-UN Spotlight Initiatives in states like Adamawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, and Sokoto.

In her keynote address, UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, commended the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum for their dedicated efforts in eliminating violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

She stressed the need for gender-balanced parliaments and legislations, citing the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill as a valuable instrument in advocating women’s rights.

Ms. Eyong also highlighted UN Women’s achievements with the One-Stop Centres in Sokoto, Ebonyi State, and the Mirabel Centre in Lagos, and called on the first ladies in the states without Sexual Assault and Referral Centre to ensure the establishment of one as their pet projects.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, represented by Mr. Ruben Alba, Head of EU Development Cooperation, also emphasised the EU’s commitment to addressing SGBV and announced a new SGBV programme set to begin implementation in 2024.

Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Chair of the Nigeria Governors Wives Forum, noted that providing access to care and support for survivors is a crucial step in ensuring victims and survivors get the best of psychosocial support as this will embolden them toward greater recovery.

The first day of training focused on strengthening the First Ladies’ understanding of power, gender, and their connection to violence experiences, as well as legislation and gaps in addressing GBV, various forms of SGBV, and their psychosocial impact.

The First Ladies were also familiarised with national and international legal frameworks addressing SGBV.

On the second day, the training delved into the core principles of prohibiting SGBV, including the VAPP Act and relevant policies, equipping the First Ladies with knowledge of support mechanisms, interventions, and initiatives related to SGBV.

The training aimed to help the First Ladies identify potential vulnerabilities to SGBV in their states and develop strategies to

prevent and respond to these vulnerabilities.

The capacity-building event represented a significant step in strengthening the commitment of First Ladies across Nigeria to combat SGBV and promote a safer society for all women and girls.