The founder, HalimaFactor Community Initiative, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to the enhancement of education, health and environment, Halima Usman has joined women across the world in participating in the 2022 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, calling for an end to all forms of gender-related violence.
“And I say all forms of gender-based violence, it can be man against the woman, it can be woman against the man or against the children. This is not a good thing. All hands must be on deck to fight this scourge” she said in a video posted on her Instagram story.
Adorning an orange-coloured muffler around her neck and a native dress with a touch of same colour, the immediate past chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA Abuja said the campaign is in solidarity with the good work the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulin Tallen is doing to raise awareness against the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence.
“I lend my voice to the good work our mother, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulin Tallen is doing in this regard. Thank you for taking the lead, thank you for what you are doing in ensuring that gender-related violence is reduced to the barest minimum, not just in Nigeria but in the world at large”she added.
According to the United Nations Population Fund, at least 1 in 3 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence before the age of 15, which has in recent times been exacerbated by the activities of insurgents in the North East. They range from forced and early marriages to the physical, mental or sexual assault on a woman.
Usman therefore appealed to stakeholders, particularly parents, religious and traditional leaders to use their privileged positions to drive awareness among their children and subjects on the need to shun all forms of violence in the society.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
