By Bridget Ikyado
Abuja – Mrs Munachim Chibuenyim, Leader, Adventist Women’s Ministries says Gender Based Violence (GBV) is hindering national growth and productivity.
Chibuenyim said this is so because it is more prevalent among people in the productive age group.
According to her, this age group is suffering from many forms of abuses and has to deal with the negative physical and psychological consequences of the vice.
The Leader spoke on Saturday at the sideline of the Seventh-Day Adventist Central Church Women organised awareness programme themed: ”enditnow” .
Chibuenyim said the 2022 edition of ‘enditnow’ campaign was aimed at curbing domestic violence and other societal ills .
These ills, she said, had continued to threaten national development and peaceful coexistence.
“This year’s edition centres on abuse of power and the need to say no to violence, as managing without abuse remains the true test of character and leadership.
”This is a global initiative advocating for peace for everyone to end violence at home,workplaces and the country,” She stated.
According to her, the most common acts of violence against women in Nigeria include sexual harassment, physical violence and harmful traditional practices.
She also listed acts against women to include emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence and violence against non-combatant women in conflict situations.
“We call on the Federal Government to create more institutions that can address the root causes of gender-based violence, the impunity that often goes with the scourge, implementing policies and enacting laws for a stronger national response that can support victims and survivors of violence.
“We call on Pastors,Imams,teachers,lawyers, doctors,health professionals, social scientists,economists, public health specialists,gender specialists and statisticians, everybody from all spheres of life to say no to abuse of power and violence,” Chibuenyim said.
She also called for continuous review of the existing policies and laws on GBV.
This, she said, would be in order to accommodate best practices of GBV strategies in stemming the scourge.
Chibuenyim advised those in power to lead right with the fear of God and not abuse the power entrusted to them.
According to Mrs Chinyere Elebesunu , the Financial Secretary of the group, violence against women was a human rights issue that extremely hinders women and girls in contributing to national development.
Elebesunu said that many cases of violence against women in Nigeria were influenced by financial factors.
”These factors range from husbands preventing their wives from working or denying them funds for necessities such as children’s school fees, health services and even food,” She said.
She advised women to spend prudently and avoid distrust that leads to fights and abuses.
Elebesunu also urged women to seek additional knowledge and acquire skills to assist in the home.
She urged them not to forget the welfare of their children, advising women to train their children in a ”Godly way they won’t depart from for a better society.”
The campaign was replicated in the 36 states as well as globally in over 200 countries where Adventists domiciled.
(NAN / vitalneswngr.com)
