By Anu Smith
An Educationist, Dr Olajumoke Akere, has urged the three tiers of government and stakeholders to empower women individually and collectively to reduce their vulnerability in the society.
Akere made the plea in a keynote address on Gender-Based Violence at the 2022 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Ibadan.
Speaking as the Chairperson of the occasion, she said that all forms of violence, physical, sexual and psychological were inimical to the wellbeing of women, no matter their positions in the society.
On sexual violence, being the theme of the 2022 celebration, the educationist said the period of the pandemic witnessed an increase in the spate of sexual violence globally, adding that more needs to be done to address it.
“Violence Against Women and Girls affects women at all stages of their life and so it continues to be an obstacle to achieving equality, development and peace, as well as fulfilment of women and girls’ rights.
“All in all, the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – to leave no one behind – cannot be fulfilled without putting an end to violence against women and girls,” she said.
Akere said that violence against women and girls had been linked to poverty, maternal death, hunger, poor health and education, climate change adaptation, energy and environmental burdens, societal insecurity and economic hardships.
“Unless violence against women and girls is completely eradicated, at least 14 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be achieved, according to a new report by The Equality Institute (EQI) out this week,” she said.
Akere said that all efforts and initiatives should be geared to respond to all forms of violence against women and girls.
According to her, it must be with a particular focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation.
