The House of Representatives marched to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Monday to raise awareness about the urgent need to end gender-based violence.
This initiative, part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, was led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and included federal lawmakers, women’s groups, and youth organizations.
Abbas, addressing the crowd, highlighted the disturbing statistic that a woman dies from violence every ten minutes worldwide, calling the trend “unacceptable.”
He emphasised the National Assembly’s commitment to passing policies that reduce violence against women and girls.
The House Committee on Women Affairs Chairperson, Kafilat Ogbara, condemned violence in various forms, from harassment in educational institutions to workplace abuse, and called for swift justice against perpetrators.
The group presented a petition to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging immediate action and prosecution of offenders.
Egbetokun pledged the Force’s commitment to tackling the issue but stressed that combating gender-based violence is a collective responsibility that requires broader societal involvement.
The campaign’s theme for the 2024 edition of the 16 Days of Activism is “Towards Beijing +30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”
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