A coalition of women groups working towards the implementation of the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law has called on the Nasarawa State Government to increase Gender Responsive budgetary allocations aimed at ending violence against women and girls in the State.
The group anchored by Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) with support from African Women Development Fund (AWDF) made the call on Wednesday at a press conference in Lafia.
Speaking at the event, the leader of the group and Executive Director of Gender and Community Empowerment Initiative (GECOME), Dorcas Iorkusa urged government and relevant stakeholders to prioritise increased state Gender Responsive budget to end violence against women and girls in the state.
Iorkusa who spoke through the Chairperson of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria ( NILOWV), Mrs Veronica Ogbole, Nasarawa State Chapter, explained that gender-responsive budgeting framework determines the human, financial, material and technical resources needed for policy implementation.
She further stated that Sexual and Gender based violence (SGBV) undermines both social and economic development and the individual’s capacity for realising their rights and potentials under already strained conditions.
“The data situation room developed by UNDP in collaboration with the Nigerian Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for monitoring the prevalence of GBV and related trends in Nigeria, estimated that from January 2020 – July 2022, 7,349 SGBV cases were reported and of these cases, sexual and physical violence accounts for 72.3% of cases reported.
“Furthermore, in 4,281 (58.25%) of reported incidence, the relationship with perpetrator was non-intimate, while 1,071 (14.57%) survivor/victim had no form of education, 68% of survivors were females who have never been married or are married.
“Thus, Gender Responsive budgeting entails incorporating a gender perspective at various stages – planning/ policy/ programme formulation, assessment of needs of target groups, allocation of resources, implementation, impact assessment and prioritisation of resources.
” It is designed to justify resource mobilisation and to leverage financial and technical resources from multiple stakeholders,” Iorkusa said.
She lauded Nigeria for her commitment to addressing SGBV with the passage in 2015 of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act into law saying that the effort is monumental in providing the first comprehensive legislative framework for the prevention of all forms of violence against vulnerable persons, especially women and girls.
Iorkusa however said that poor implementation mechanisms, lack of coordination, poor enforcement capacity, limited resources, among other factors were undermining the efficacy of VAPP law as an instrument for addressing SGBV.
“These challenges provide a strategic opportunity to develop a gender-responsive budgeting Framework as a tool to guild strategic resource allocation for the implementation of VAPP Law.
“We stand at a critical juncture in our commitment to protect and empower the women and girls of Nasarawa State, GECOME and other members of the coalition in the state including League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), Hope Rising for the Less Privilege and Vulnerable Foundation, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Nigeria) Nasarawa Branch, Dynamis Divas Women Empowerment Forum( DDWF) to stress that the government and relevant stakeholders should prioritize increased state Gender Responsive budget to end violence against women and girls in the state.
“The advocacy document has presented four compelling reasons for an increased state budget , one of which is Protection of Human Rights: Every woman and girl has the right to live free from violence and fear.
” By increasing the budget, we can enhance protective services, ensuring that survivors have access to justice, legal support, and safe spaces. This investment is a fundamental step in upholding human rights in our community in order to create a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all,” she said.
