Florence Gbinigie Joins women in diaspora to kick Against Gender Based Violence

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.

It was  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.