By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja
The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrate Confraternity has called for the elimination of violence against women and girls in all spheres of life.
In a bid to contribute to stopping the negative narrative against women and girls, the Sahara and Konemara Decks of the Association organised a webinar with participation from different parts of the world.
Capoon of Sahara Deck, Mr Victor Ofili, said the webinar with the theme, “SHE IS HUMAN: ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS”, was an effort to totally eliminate the problem, or at least, go a long way in stopping it.
Ofili, speaking during the event that marked the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, stressed the need for the menfolk that put women through various forms of violence, to be educated to stop.
NAS Secondmate, Essay Folami, said they were a civil society organisation that works towards the attainment of a just society.
He said the fact that were tackling the issue of violence against women and girls, even though they are are a male dominant organization, shows that it is not just about the men, but also about the female gender.
Folami said it is understood that there are two sides to a coin, but in most cases male gender giving it to the female.
Folami, who noted violence against women and the girl child starts from the home, said it goes beyond just rape and genital mutilation, but also to the fact that women are limited because it is felt the male gender is superior.
He said NAS is more than just talking but about walking the talk.
According to him, it is easy to get theoretical, but if nothing is done, the situation would remain the same.
The NAS Secondmate said they were ready to collaborate with as many organisations as possible to promote justice for the female gender.
Capoon of Konemara Deck, Chinedu Emezie, urged participants to continue the conversation even outside the webinar.
“This conversation should not stop here. It should be an everyday conversation, which we should have everyday with our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers as we go everyday. The reality today is that violence against women and the girl child is a global pandemic. It cuts across all society irrespective of social class, creed or race in all ramifications which includes rape, wife beating, acid attacks, corporal punishment, trafficking, female genital mutilation, mental, physical, and emotional violence. Any of these should elicit outrage from any rational mind,” he said.
The webinar featured five speakers, who dwelt extensively on the issue.
They were Mrs Jacinta Ngozi Ike, Desk Officer, FCT sexual and gender based violence response team; Dr Brenda Max-Nduaguibe, a chartered administrator, conflict management practitioner and community development expert; and Mrs Ezinwa E. Obiajuwa, Assistant Secretary FIDA (Nigeria), Abuja Branch and lawyer with years of experience in dealing with issues of gender based violence.
The others are AIG Austin Iwar rtd, who served in the Nigeria Police for 33 years, and Mr Ajuluchukwu Eze, an Abuja based legal practitioner.
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