Experts have identified quick intervention and more manpower management to curb increasing cases of gender-based domestic violence.
They spoke at a meeting organised by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) in collaboration with Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) with support from Spotlight Initiative/UN Women Project.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bassey-Olubanke of Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) stated that there is now a lot of awareness on how best to tackle domestic violence issues as more women are now speaking up.
Speaking about her experience in the past five years Olubanke said: “With the training received from WARDC, I also tried to educate our women in Churches now more women and girls are coming out of their shells speaking up about their challenges with the aim of finding lasting solution.
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“So far WOWICAN has been able to settle cases of about 5-7 families, thanks to Spotlight Initiative”.
Through the EU/UNWOMEN Spotlight Initiative, the Executive Director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiode said WARDC has worked with over 700 groups and organisations in Lagos to strengthen voices and accountability on ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“WARDC led the advocacy for a model costed action plan across six states and was successful at contributing to the Executive assent of the plan in Bauchi, Cross River, and Sokoto states.
“We currently look forward to the assent by the government of Adamawa, Ebonyi and Lagos States. WARDC has contributed to solidarity and movement building in Nigeria through this project. Through this project, several accountability trainings were conducted,” she said.
Akiode highlighted some of the projects implemented to include: provision of guidance to operationalize advocacy on ending VAWG and SGBV and promoting into the normative work by CSOs, women rights advocates, groups facing discrimination and autonomous women’s group.