Oxfam Nigeria, has held an awareness campaign for implementation of legal instruments to end gender-based violence, particularly against girls, in the country.
Program officer, Gender Justice Unit, Oxfam Nigeria, Helen Akinyemi,
led the campaign on Tuesday in Abuja.
The move is part of the global campaign to put to an end gender-based violence against women and girls with Oxfam’s theme,”Enough, Together We Can End Violence Against Women And Girls”
Akinyemi said although the international girl child is usually celebrated on the 11th of October annually, this year Oxfam Nigeria, intentionally integrated it into the 16 days of activism to raise awareness on the views, challenges confronting the girl child and also the importance of empowering the girl.
According to her, the campaign is also aimed at addressing the issue of implementation of the various tools that can protect the girl, such as policies, framework tools, protocols.
While commending the Nigerian Government for passing the Child Rights Acts, she said when the girl child is empowered they become change makers in their careers.
Meanwhile, the winner of the 2022 International Day of the Girl, a 13 year old student from Champions International Schools, Magboro, Ogun State, Dolapo Balogun, expressed delight in emerging as winner, she added that being a girl child is tough.
Balogun called on governments and child rights stakeholders to prioritize policies and activities that is geared towards empowering the girl child.
Earlier, a panel discussion was held as part of activities to raise awareness for the participating students drawn from schools within the Federal Capital Territory on ending gender based violence.
The panel had experts that spoke on issues of Maternal and Child Health Care, Building Governance and Leadership Capacity for girls in Nigeria among other topics.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, GBV, is an annual international campaign that commences on 25th November on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The event ends on 10th December, Human Rights Day, indicating that violence against women is the most pervasive breach of human rights worldwide.
The global theme of the 16 Days of Activism for 2022 is; “ Unite! Activism To End Violence Against Women and Girls!”