BENIN CITY – The activism against gender based violence kicks off today all over the world with several actions being taken to sensitize people on the importance of eliminating violence against women and girls.
The Nigerian observer learnt that the first draft document developed in consultation with Every Woman Treaty from the Convention on Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls will soon be made public.
It was gathered that Hon Florence Gbinigie of the Forum of Nigeria Women in Politics and other women are meeting with Ambassadors/diplomats, foreign affairs and women affairs ministers to seek their support for the implementation of the treaty within this 16 days of activism against gender based violence which starts on November 25th to 15 December 2021.
The 32 page draft treaty is amongst others affirming the global commitment to prevent, protect, eliminate and condemn all forms of violence against women and girls of all ages, which is a violation of their basic human right to live free from violence across their life cycle in every sphere including but not limited to public, private and online locations.
While welcoming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5) which calls on states to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation, it recalls that the rights of women and girls have been recognized in international and regional human rights instruments, notably in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
The treaty is deeply concerned that despite these instruments, recommendations and goals normative gaps exist and that extensive, endemic and systemic violence against women and girls of all ages persists without state support and leadership that ensures adequate multi-sectorial community responses, implementation, monitoring measures including dedicated data collection and analysis, access to justice and service including but not limited to prevention education.
It is deeply concerned by the culture of impunity in many parts of the world that enables perpetrators to evade accountability as well as perpetuating the culture of silence that discourage survivors of violence. It is also deeply concerned that violence against women and girls has increased during the COVID pandemic.
While stressing the necessary role of men and boys as part of the solution in securing effective frameworks to eliminate violence against women and girls the treaty resolved that the adoption of a binding Convention on elimination of violence against women and girls of all ages within the human rights framework will strengthen the protection of the rights of women and girls and promote the full implementation of laws, policies and measures by states Parties so that violence free societies are established and maintained for the well being of all human beings.
