The United Nations Women has called on traditional rulers in Nigeria to take a leading role in eradicating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), describing it as a collective responsibility crucial to national peace and prosperity.
At a recent knowledge-sharing session in Abuja, UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Beatrice Eyong — represented by Deputy Country Representative Ms. Patience Ekeoba — said GBV remains one of the world’s most pressing human rights violations, exacerbated by conflict, economic hardship, and the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Ending GBV is a shared responsibility and a pathway to peace and prosperity,” Eyong said, stressing the need for traditional institutions to act as community-based prevention systems.
The event focused on equipping traditional leaders with tools to address GBV and strengthen the implementation of laws like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act at the grassroots level.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, called for nationwide action, including capacity building for community actors and the creation of a National Social Protection Agency for vulnerable groups.
Also speaking, Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi urged traditional rulers to use their platforms to break the silence around GBV, emphasizing that cultural barriers must not override justice.
The session, organized by UN Women, aimed to reinforce partnerships and set the stage for community-led solutions to GBV — placing traditional rulers at the forefront of advocacy, prevention, and change.
Writing by Gladys Omamogho