Violence against women: Group urges religious, culture leaders to check menace

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

A Non-governmental Organization, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection alternatives,WRAPA has called on religious and culture leaders to use moral and spiritual appeal to guide and support the use of practical social accountability measures to check the menace  of violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), in Nigeria and hold its perpetrators accountable.

This is sequel to a research finding organized by the group, which indicated that 85 percent of women and girls experience one form of violence ranging from physical, economic,. Psychological to sexual.

The founder of WRAPA, Justice Fati Abubarka made the call at a one day National Dialogue with 100 Inter-Faith and Culture Leaders with the theme “ Moving from Rehtorics to Action, held at Tahir Guest Place, Kano state.

She said the call became important because Religious and Traditional Leaders and Institutions are deeply rooted at all sociial levels in all communities.

“They command respect, trust and loyalty enabling them to excercise acceptable albeit limited sanctions for social deviations by members in their domain or congregation, including functions of councelling and arbiteration relating to family life,” she said.

Justice Fati also appealed for support to survivors of violence in.private and public spaces by strengthening their ability to speak out, seek help and access justice in order to achieve zero tolerance to Violence Against Women and girls and its consequences.

“The support offered by palaces, mosques and churches often fill the gaps in the needs of Survivors violence”

She said the Dialogue was designed to provide an avenue for sincere conversations to correct perceptions and mis representation that allow narratives justifying some forms of violence against women and girls in different social settings.

She commended the Ford Foundation and the Bayero University Kano Center for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialoque, CICID for supporting the event.

Professor Aisha Abdul-Ismail spoke on the intersection of Social Norms VAWG, Reverend Mike Akinboboye spoke on VAWG Accountability and Communities, while Dr. Mansur Isa Yelwa and Engr Basheer Adamu delved on Consensus actions to reduce prevalence and encourage actionable consequences and Migration strategies for VAWG respectively.