Bukola Afeni
Strategic private sector engagement and resource mobilization are critical towards eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based violence to create a safer society for women and girls in Nigeria.
The SGBV Justice Network (SJN) Cluster said there is a need for resource mobilization to provide Gender-Based Violence survivors with the necessary support and services.
The declaration came during a one-day training session on private sector engagement and campaign attended by key figures in the sector.
Gender and Advocate Specialist, Evelyn Ugbe, stressed the need for innovative cross-sector collaborations and partnerships to mobilize the human and financial resources required to achieve common goals in reducing SGBV in society.
Ugbe underlined that strategic actions, commitment, and funding are essential to achieving clear-cut objectives in SGBV elimination.
“Adequate funding enables organizations to provide medical care, counselling, and assistance to survivors, filling a critical gap in support services”, she said.
Discussing the funding landscape for Gender-Based Violence, Ugbe noted that funds are generated from various sources.
” The sources may include government, the private sector, and sourcing for grants. It can also be through partnership or collaboration “, Ugbe added.
She highlighted concern that international development assistance has historically given insufficient priority and financing to GBV, with only a small percentage explicitly targeting gender equality.
The gender advocate stressed the importance of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
According to her, Gender Based Violence targets, under Goal 5, aims to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.
“Trafficking and other types of exploitation cannot be achieved as a standalone target. Reduction of SGBV also produces benefits in health, education, productivity, poverty reduction, reduced HIV risk, and overall well-being, contributing to other goals in the SDGs.
“Furthermore, progress on various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, such as those related to poverty, inequality, health, education, work, peacebuilding, and justice, will help create an enabling environment for reducing GBV”, she said.
Ugbe mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s commitment towards expanding the use of specialist police units to handle domestic violence cases.
While also strengthening social services, supporting victims, encouraging whistleblowing, and prioritizing prosecution for abusers.
