Members of the associations during the march against rape in Plateau.
By M. Peter – Jos
International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA in collaboration with the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ and the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, in Plateau on Thursday called for immediate action to curb rape.
The different groups staged peaceful march to the State House of Assembly to push for the adoption and domestication of the relevant laws that will check sexual abuse of women and gender based violence, among other vices being perpetrated against girls and women urged for urgent action.
READ : PHED signs condition of service with staff 7 years after company started
Speaking, the State Chairperson of FIDA, Mary Izam said, “It is no longer news that there has been a tremendous acceleration in the number of gender-based violence cases, particularly the abuse and rape of women and the defilement of babies and children across the States of Nigeria. With these evil and unpleasant happenings in our communities, our children, girls, and women are no longer safe.”
Presenting its position in a document titled “A call for Prompt Action to Curb the Alarming Increase of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Cases in Nigeria,” to the State House of Assembly, she stressed that the clarion call to major key players became necessary so that a more holistic and aggressive approach would be adopted towards tackling the spiraling problem.
Her words, “The government needs to declare a state of emergency on gender-based violence so it is tackled forthwith, most efficiently and effectively across all States of the federation.”
Also speaking, the State Chairman of NUJ, Paul Jatau, and State Chairperson of NAWOJ, Jennifer Yarima condemned the increasing cases of gender-based violence and described the legislature as the arm of government that has ‘the weapon’ to confront the evil and called on the lawmakers to urgently adopt and domesticate all the laws that would check rape and other related crimes.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abok Ayuba who received the groups through the Member representing Jos North/West constituency, Esther Dusu, who is also the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, assured that the legislature was working towards ensuring the security of women and children in the state.
While describing women as “blessings and not a curse to society,” the lawmaker explained that members were already working on bills that would safeguard the rights of women and the girl child in addition to the existing laws previously passed by the House.
RELATED STORY : Plateau state suspends lockdown, insists schools should remain closed
The document submitted by the protesters contained demands for, among other things, the enactment and review of laws to adequately deal with the menace of gender based-violence, implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, the Child Rights Law and other related laws.
They also advocated for enabling structures and facilities to ensure effective implementation of the various Acts as well as the setting up of an Implementation Committee as provided for by the law as well called on the Chief Judges of all States of the federation to designate a ‘Special fast track court’ to handle gender-based issues.
