By Olukayode Idowu
The United Nations Systems in Nigeria has reiterated the need to eliminate violence against women and girls and dismantle harmful cultural norms, calling for renewed commitment from stakeholders.
This appeal was made during the Joint UN Accountability Forum and the Orange Lighting Ceremony held at the UN House in Abuja, with the theme: Towards Beijing+30: Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.
Speaking at the event, the UN Women Deputy Representative to Nigeria and Co-Chair of the Gender Thematic Group, Dr. Nesreen El-Molla, lamented the socio-economic toll of gender-based violence (GBV) on Nigeria’s development.
She noted that behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose potential has been stifled and rights violated.
She said: “Today’s event is a call to action for all of us to advocate for a Nigeria free from violence against women and girls. It is also a platform to address harmful norms by engaging with allies such as traditional and faith leaders, the private sector, and communities to reshape the narrative around gender equality. We all have a role to play in upholding universal human rights, calling out abuses, and holding systems accountable to their commitments.”
El-Molla said UN Women remains dedicated to strengthening programming efforts and scaling up investments in policy and legislative reforms that protect women’s rights.
She added that: “Through our mandate, UN Women will continue to champion basic women’s rights, including political participation, economic empowerment, and freedom from violence. We are also committed to providing holistic support for GBV survivors by expanding services, setting up shelters, improving policies, and working with community leaders to tackle harmful practices.”
The UNESCO Head of Office in Nigeria, Abdourahamane Diallo, also highlighted UNESCO’s role in addressing GBV through education and skills training for women, particularly in marginalized communities.
He said: “UNESCO aligns with the Beijing Platform for Action by promoting gender equality through education and eradicating GBV. We aim to integrate GBV prevention into policies and collaborate with civil society to challenge harmful cultural norms through grassroots interventions.”
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on her part, called for strategic action to overcome barriers in combating GBV. She emphasized the importance of gender-disaggregated data in designing evidence-based interventions and effective resource allocation in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
She noted that: “For Nigeria, closing gender gaps could add $15 trillion to our GDP annually by 2050. Women constitute 49% of our population and own 41% of small and medium enterprises. Data remains a vital tool in our fight for gender equality. Equally important is the effective allocation of resources to programmes that make the greatest impact, particularly in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, the Beijing+30 Report offers an opportunity to reflect on progress made and areas requiring further attention.”
Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Dr. Vanessa Phala-Moyo, commended Nigeria’s efforts to address workplace violence.
She said: “Nigeria is the first country in the subcontinent to ratify the ILO Convention Against Violence and Harassment. This demonstrates leadership-level commitment, and we will continue to support the private and public sectors in implementing measures to address violence and harassment.
Other highlights of the Event are: Orange Lighting Ceremony: A symbol of hope, unity, and the vision for a world where women and girls live free from violence and fear.
Beijing+30 Report Launch: Celebrated progress, renewed commitments, and outlined future priorities for achieving gender equality in Nigeria.
The event reaffirmed the collective resolve of the UN, government, and stakeholders to create a safer, more equitable Nigeria for women and girls