Increase funding to strengthen fight against gender-based violence, NGO tells FG

The Women Aspire Empowerment Initiative (WAEI), a non-governmental organisation, has appealed to the federal government, United Nations and relevant stakeholders to step up funding to fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Bibiana Okereafor, the organisation’s founder, made the appeal on Friday at a summit in Abuja to establish grassroot women advocacy and activism movement to stop violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The summit was part of the NGO’s activities to commemorate this year’s 16 days activism against gender-based violence.

Okereafor said there is a need to address the socio-economic demands of survivors of SGBV by empowering the women and girls.

She also said while independent women movements are the most important force to drive policy change in GBV, such women movements are not being funded.

“Increasing funding sources that are long term in nature to finance women-focused rights organizations is key to funding solutions and response to VAWGs in Nigeria,” she said.

“We are calling on the federal government through the office of the Women Affairs Minister, Barrister Uju Kennedy to push for the inclusion of Funding Organizations that are involved in the fight to prevent VAWG, as well as the rehabilitation of existing victims/survivors and reduce incidents of future violence.

“We also call on federal government organisations, states, international bodies, UN women & corporate organisations, high net-worth individuals within and outside Nigeria to give financial support to stop continued VAWG in Nigeria.”

Delivering his keynote Address, Tijani Ahmed, commissioner of the national commission for refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons (NCFRMI), said violence against women and girls is a pressing global issue that requires collective attention and action.

Represented by Comfort Sanni, assistant director, NCFRMI, he commended the call for establishing a grassroots women’s advocacy and activism movement saying “it is an essential step”.

“Such a movement aims to empower women and girls, provide them with a platform to raise their voices and promote gender equality in all aspects of life. By mobilizing at the grassroots level, we can ensure that the voices of marginalized women and girls and their specific needs are addressed,” he said.