WARDC seeks to engage boys, men to end sexual, gender-based violence
Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), has called for partnership between government, institutions, Civil Society Organisations and the community to end Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.
WARDC made this call yesterday during a Capacity-building and consultative meeting with Grassroots women associations and leaders to better engage men and boys on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), harmful practices and women and girls access to sexual rights and health rights, which was sponsored by the Joint European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative.
Speaking during the meeting attended by community women who are leaders of civil society, religious and trade organisations in different parts of Lagos State, founding director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, implored government to show zero tolerance to gender based violence.
She stressed the need for the roles of traditional and community leaders in Lagos State in the campaign against rape and other gender based violence in the state, noting that community sanctions to discourage raping and rapists will address gender based violence at the community level.
“To address the issue of SGBV, there must be co-ordinated response that will leave no one behind. There must be much more partnership between CSOs, government and private sector. Government must show zero tolerance to Gender Based Violence.