Wife of a former Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has urged Nigerian women to collectively fight back against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), while Nigeria must stop fueling practices, beliefs and stereotypes that undermine the physical and emotional well-being of women and girls to combat all forms of SGBV.
She made the call on Monday in Abuja at the launch of maiden edition of 217-page ‘Womanity Index Report on SGBV: A Sub-National Assessment’ produced by BudgIT Foundation, Invictus Africa and Ford Foundation.
The report listed Abia, Ekiti, Imo, and Lagos states respectively as ‘Blue States’ under the Laws and Policies Index, due to the fact that they have established robust legal frameworks that criminalise SGBV and also outlawed customary and religious practices that perpetuate GBV.
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Mrs Fayemi said that all harmful traditional practices which minimise the personhood of women must be avoided as well as the thriving culture of impunity, anchored on the shaming and intimidation of survivors resulting in lack of access to justice.