The Nigerian Women Affairs Minister has spoken out for support of victims of Sexual Gender Based Violence, as she pledged spearhead the drive to protect the rights of women and children, including the vulnerable.
While promising to lead in championing and reviewing policies that will strengthen the fight against sexual and gender based violence in the country, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim said decisive actions must be taken against culprits and rapists.
“There is no reason anyone should face violence of any sort. We must as stakeholders, chart a course to end SGBV, Suleiman-Ibrahim said during a Webinar on Thursday.
“We must review also the legal instruments, and strengthen it, so that offenders would know that they will end up being prosecuted and will end up in jail.
“Sexual and Gender based violence is everybody’s problem because anybody can be raped, so it is not limited to the less privileged alone. Count on me to take up police review, take charge and carry out necessary interventions”, the Minister revealed.
Despite the lack of scarce resources, according to her, the Ministry must utilise the need to tap into the resources of developmental partners. “We must align to a national action plan which must be accelerated”, she said.
Wife.of Kwara State Governor, Professor Olufolake Abdulrasaq, assured that the spouses of the Nigerian Governors Forum share same passion with the Honourable Minister, and added that they already have shelter homes in 12 states and will welcome more interventions from governments, with a call that advocacy ans sensitization should continue.
The minister called for suggestions for improved cooperation “in ending the monster called Gender based violence against women and children”.
The webinar was attended by non governmental organisations, development partners, advocacy groups and research experts, among others.
The theme of the webinar is titled Voice Across Nigeria, A Call for Nigerian Women to Fight Against Sexual and Gender Based Violence.