The Center for Justice, Development and Peace (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos has called for the establishment of more shelters throughout the country for victims of gender-based violence.
JDPC made the call on Saturday in a statement issued at the end of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2021.
JDPC said in the signed statement, ‘Rev. P. Raymond Anoliefo.
“Most of the women stay in their homes, where they experienced violence because most of them do not know how to build their lives, they do not know where to go, if their families had returned.
“So shelters are important, not just shelters to rest, but shelters where they are offered empowerment.
“Shelters where they receive entrepreneurship training that will prepare them to live independently,” JDPC said in the signed statement, ‘Rev. P. Raymond Anoliefo.
She said that the issue of violence against women was one of the major contemporary issues of the 21st century, highlighting the need to better advocate for the protection of women’s rights and well-being.
The statement also noted the need to raise awareness and spark conversations to address the threat.
She called for better implementation of the large number of laws enacted for the protection of women against violence in Nigeria and to formulate gender-based policies and establish a framework to monitor compliance with relevant laws and policies.
According to the statement, enacting and enforcing the laws will act as a deterrent for violators.
The statement insisted on the need to create awareness among the population about the scourge of violence against women and to equip and train those who work with victims of gender violence.
She said that it was imperative to promote international cooperation and dialogue for the ratification of emerging instruments for the comprehensive protection of women.
The statement said that it was necessary to work towards the inclusion of gender education in the national curriculum at all levels of education to help reduce the root causes of violence against women.
”Adequate budget allocations need to be made for the relevant MDAs responsible for sensitizing and supporting the population on gender rights issues.
We call on all stakeholders, including government, institutions and families, to prioritize the protection of women and girls from all manifestations of violence and to provide an enabling environment for all women and girls to girls flourish in Nigerian society.
“This is in view of the above and the momentum towards achieving the goals of Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,” he said. (NAN)