The Nigeria Labour Congress, Lagos State Chapter, has called on women to unite to fight against violence against women and girls in the communities and workplaces.
The state Chairman, Mrs Funmi Sessi, made the call at a programme, 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Harassment held on Monday in Lagos.
The event had as its theme, “Unite to end Violence Against Women at Workplaces”.
Sessi said it had become necessary to raise the awareness among women in order for them to support each other in the fight.
“This programme is very necessary for Nigeria and most especially for Lagos State workers, and women in particular, to commemorate a day out of the 16 days of the action against anything that is violence against gender, even though we know that gender is not necessarily referring only to the female.
“For us, this year we are uniting to ensure that we stamp out violence against women and our girls.
“We have to be united; women must support women and to play our part to say it to the whole world that enough is enough; we no longer want violence against women, “ she said.
She commended the Federal Government for ratifying the Convention 190 of the International Labour Organisation, which dealt with issues on gender violence at workplaces.
She said, however, many states were yet to commence domestication and implementation of the ILO C190, except for Lagos State.
“Nigeria has ratified; we are also talking about domestication and implementation, even though only a few state in Nigeria like in Lagos, domestication and implementation has already commenced.
“That is why the state is at the forefront of issues on gender-based violence and harassment.
“The state has a special offences court on sexual offences: four of those courts at Ikeja where they hear cases and prosecute incidences of sexual offences and they dispense justice without delay in all those courts.
“The governor abhors anything that characterises violence against women and supports women in every aspect, the reason he places so much importance on the issue of gender-based violence and harassment, “ she said.
Sessi urged women to ensure that they were well informed about issues surrounding gender-based violence including the appropriate agencies to report cases to.
Also, Ms Faith Adetunji, an advocate against gender-based violence and Chief Executive Officer of an NGO, Moffe Initiative, urged women to speak up for the appropriate bodies to help them.
According to her, many women, especially young ones, shy away from speaking up because of fear of the perpetrator finding out and attacking them afterward.
“It is high time we spoke up; I am really happy that Lagos State government is giving a listening ear to issues of gender-based violence.
“There are many agencies out there to listen to our concerns and gone are those days where you can be shunned and told to keep quiet.
“You can speak up and you are sure something will be done and be sure that the offender is not going to be bailed, “ she said.
Also, a member of Association of App-based Transporters of Nigeria, Ms Maureen Ogum, lauded the event, saying, women in the profession of driving other passengers were highly vulnerable to incidences of violence and harassment.
Ogum said the programme was educative and gave insight as to what to expect from society as female workers in the gig economy.
“So, as female drivers, whatever movement we sense from the environment, we pick signals and inform each other to alert others about how vulnerable a particular place is.
“We look out for groups and associations that preach these things and we attend seminars to keep ourselves abreast of what is happening around the society and to help educate others too.
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“One of such is Women Rights and Health Project, where they come from time to time to sensitise us about the gender based violence, all the information around it and how we can help ourselves and community, “ she said.
According to the International Labour Organisation, every year, from Nov. 25 to Dec.10, the world observes the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
ILO says it is a campaign that aims to raise awareness and mobilise action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
