Women Lawyers Broaden Engagement To Curb Gender-Based Violence

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) is pressing for accelerated and swift action to deal with perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.

The lawyers are of the opinion that prosecution of offenders as provided by the law would help in preventing the rising number of cases of GBV.

The Ikeja branch of FIDA, made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement forum for law enforcement agencies on the prevention of violence against women and girls.

The dialogue, themed: “Promoting Gender-Sensitive Cultures in Law Enforcement Agencies Towards Preventing Gender-Based Violence,” aimed to promote cross-sector learning, strengthen institutional capacity for gender-responsive legal frameworks and encourage collaborative prevention strategies.

Participants included representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Human Rights Commission, state GBV committees and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, and Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).

Director of NHRC Lagos Office, Lucas Koyejo, said social, cultural and religious norms continue to fuel violence against women and girls.

He also raised concerns over the growing threat of technology-facilitated GBV, including sextortion and online blackmail, where criminals exploit victims through private images to extort money.

According to him, tackling the menace requires sustained sensitisation campaigns targeting youths, women and grassroots communities, alongside strict enforcement of relevant laws.

Koyejo stressed that perpetrators of digital and other forms of GBV must be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

Also speaking, Zonal Commander of NAPTIP Comfort Agboko, identified sexual, physical, psychological and economic abuse as common forms of GBV in the Southwest, while noting that some areas also experience harmful cultural practices.

She stated that trafficking victims often suffer multiple forms of violence and called for sustained awareness campaigns and stronger law enforcement to deter offenders.

Regional Coordinator for Nigeria at Giving Africa a New Face, Oluwafemi Abe, emphasised the need for grassroots engagement, capacity building and community-based awareness campaigns to combat GBV and harmful cultural practices.