Commissioner Decries Rise In Attacks On Women Rights Defenders

The Gombe State commissioner for women affairs and social development, Mrs Na’omi Awak, has expressed concern on the rise of anti-feminist movements and attacks on women rights defenders in many countries, including Nigeria.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference as part of activities to commemorate this year’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, Awak said governments too are not helping matters as they use force against women’s rights protectors, adding that the development discourages activism against preventable gender based violence.

“Anti-feminist movements are on the rise, attacks against women’s rights defenders and activists are up, and the legal status of women’s rights is increasingly imperiled in many countries.

“Regressive new laws are exacerbating impunity for perpetrators of domestic violence, governments are using force against femicide and gender-based violence protestors, and women’s rights organisations are being increasingly marginalized,” she said.

According to her, evidence shows that the single most important driver of policy change is a strong and autonomous women’s movement that would make the society understand and acknowledge the fact that feminist mobilisation is aimed at fighting violence and a literal matter of life and death.

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“These 16 days, we are encouraging everyone to get involved, from amplifying the voices of survivors and activists to supporting women’s organisations and strengthening feminists.

“To this end, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate and commend Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the Governor of Gombe State, and his amiable wife; Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, for their doggedness to see that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child Rights Law were passed in Gombe State.

“This indeed is a great achievement for the state; I want to also commend civil society organisations and the press for pushing for the actualisation of the two laws. We shall continue to push for the implementation,” she said.