Government must enforce laws protecting women, girls, says Feminism Lab

The Feminism Lab has asked the federal and state governments to enforce relevant laws to curb all forms of gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.

Hauwa Mustapha, chairperson of the Feminism Lab, spoke in Abuja during an event organised as part of the campaigns to mark the 2024 16 days of activism.

The ‘16 days of activism’ campaign is an annual international movement for addressing GBV against women and girls.

The campaign commences every November 25 and runs for 16 days until December 10, when the United Nations (UN) celebrates ‘Human Rights Day’.

Mustapha said government, policymakers, and legislators must collaborate to address threats to the safety of women and girls.

“We have laws in this country. Unfortunately, the problem lies in their implementation because the system of patriarchy has deeply infiltrated the psyche of the country,” she said.

“We want to use this opportunity to call on the government to understand that the idea of 16 days of activism is not just theoretical or ceremonial.

“It is a reminder that within our communities and homes, there is a certain gender vulnerable to violence.

“We urge the government to strengthen our legislation to protect women and ensure the effective implementation of these legal frameworks. Sometimes the laws are weak, and sometimes they are not implemented at all.

“Feminism Lab is about ensuring gender mainstreaming—that the rights of women and men are respected.

“Women should not be seen as pawns or objects of violence. While we recognise that men can also be victims of emotional and physical violence, the world is patriarchal, and the odds are usually stacked against women.

“As part of our work, we will make our voices heard on issues affecting women and vehemently oppose domestic violence—whether it targets men or women. We stand against the patriarchal system that aims to suppress women.”

Sam Amadi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), harped on the need to reform the electoral process to enhance women’s participation.

“The fastest way for women to gain political power is to reduce the transaction cost of politics. For instance, during the zero-party system under Ibrahim Babangida, more women won elections at the local government level,” Amadi said.

Juliana Anosike, project manager at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nigeria (FES), said the Feminism Lab has recorded successes, particularly in projects such as the feminism radio programme, and the Sista Sista Book Club, among others.

Feminism Lab, an initiative of FES, was founded in 2020. It brings together feminists and advocates of gender justice to protect the rights of women and girls.