FG Committed To Eradicating Sexual,Gender-Based Violence In Nigeria – Malami

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has said that the Federal Government remains committed to the eradication of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

Malami made this known on Thursday at the 2nd Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on the Eradication of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Hall of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.

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Malami held that since the future of Nigeria hung on the young population, it was necessary that the rights of women and children be protected.

“Since our first meeting, quite a number of events have unfolded and considerable steps have been taken towards the fulfilment of our commitment to eradicate sexual and gender based violence from our nation.

“Let me use this opportunity to first and foremost recognise and applaud the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Paulen Talen for her passionate commitment to protecting the right of women and children in Nigeria.

“It is evident that ensuring SGBV
becomes history in our country and that our women and girls are no longer victims without care or justice, is not a merely your work but your life,” he said.

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He also noted the support of international bodies, in additional to home-based stakeholders, in the attainment of the goals and objectives of the committee.

“I must also commend the good work of all the members of this committee who have put tireless effort and time into the fulflment of the mandate of this crucial committee.

“My Special thanks goes to the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and other United Nation Specialized agencies including UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF who have been working assiduously with the committee these past few weeks to ensure we set off on a right footing and achieve success in the programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said that in a bid to ensure speedy attainment of the committee’s objective, a few management shift had to be made.

“Furthermore, the Federal Govermment in its determination to ensure the success of the work of this committee has directed the
Co-Chairing of the Inter-Ministerial Management Committee on SGBV by the Hon. Minister for Women Affairs and the Inclusion of the Hon. Minister of State for Finance in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on SGBV.

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“This is to harmonise all efforts and resources that has been established at the Federal level against this terrible crime in our society and to guarantee a better and more impactful result.

“The coming on board of the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning will also pave the way for this committee to attain the objective of providing support for better planning and gender responsive budgeting with a focus on prevention and eradication of SGBV.

“This will also facilitate the mainstreaming of SGBV implementation plan into the budget of relevant line MDAs/sectors of the economy to enable Nigeria achieve SDG 5 (on gender equality) and SDG 16 (on peace, justice and strong institutions) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda respectively.

“As you are all aware without adequate funding, all our good intentions ends at this table,” he added.

“We must therefore appreciate the sincere commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to the eradication of SGBV and the provision of requisite sustainable services to survivors,” he said.

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