Covid-19, Climate Change, Economic Instability Worsening Rate of GBV – Commissioner
By Chima Azubuike
Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Naomi Awak, has lamented the increasing level of gender-based violence, adding that Covid-19, climate change, economic instability have heightened the rate.
Awak, made this disclosure on Friday, while commemorating this year’s 16 days of activism with the theme; ‘UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls’.
The flag off ceremony on this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women was organised with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
She disclosed that violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation around the world.
“Already heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, its prevalence is now being further increased by the intersecting crises of climate change, global conflict and economic instability.
“Against this setting, a backlash against women’s rights is underway around the world. Anti-feminist movements are on the rise, attacks against women human rights defenders and activists are up, and the legal status of women’s rights is increasingly imperilled in many countries,” Awak said.
While revealing that prevention of violence of against women and girls could be prevented, Awak noted that enactment and implementation of relevant laws would improve safety.
She said, “Regressive new laws are exacerbating impunity for perpetrators of domestic violence, governments are using force against femicide and gender-based violence protestors, and women’s rights organizations are being increasingly marginalised.
“Despite these discouraging trends, there is more proof than ever that violence against women and girls is preventable. Evidence shows that the single most important driver of policy change is a strong and autonomous women’s movement—making feminist mobilisation in the face of anti-rights backlash a literal matter of life and death.”
Awak, “To this end, I want to use this opportunity to appreciate and commend His Excellency, Alh. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen Gombe) the Governor of Gombe State, and his amiable wife; Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya for their doggedness to see that the violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child Rights Law were passed in Gombe State.”
