By Olaleke ASHAFA
The European Union on Monday said that Nigeria would be one of the countries to benefit from its 500 million Euro spotlight initiative aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Ketil Karlsen, disclosed this at the EU Delegation event to mark the end of the “16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign’’ in Abuja.
Karlsen said that the initiative, to be launched on global stage, would respond to all forms of violence against women and girls.
The fund is expected to focus on eliminating domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation.
“We are adding our contribution as EU to support this campaign. We are also supporting a number of projects.
“Very soon the EU will launch a spotlight initiative on the global stage with 500 million Euro investment. Nigeria is one of the key and pilot countries.
“That is because we know that so much is needed to be done to make sure that not just to tackle early marriage, to make sure that Internally
Displaced Persons (IDPs) are treated.
He said there was need to take the bull by the horns to make sure that there was an end to violence against women and girls.
“The message we are passing here today is that women rights are fundamental rights that must be protected.
“We call out to all men and boys that it is not being manly to treat girls wrongly; on the contrary we need to protect, we need to care, we need to make sure that there are equal opportunity to all.’’
The EU ambassador said that the campaign against gender-based violence was important as the statistics on it was becoming worrisome, saying abuse of daughters, wives, sisters, friends must fundamentally stop.
Karlsen said that the closing date of the 16 days activism campaign was historic as it coincided with the 17 years of adoption of universal declaration of Human Rights of United Nations by all the participating countries of the world.
He expressed joy that the campaign attracted about 100 million reactions on social media, as many celebrities added their voices to it, adding that however, much still needed to be done.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, speaking with the newsmen at the event, said it was important for Nigeria to invest in women and the protection of their right.
Symington said both genders were important for the future of the country.
“It is important for the future of Nigeria and the world to invest, empower and protect, educate and help women and girls.’’
He said that would make sure that both men and women were the transfer of better lives to make a better Nigeria and the world.
He said that gender based violence was not just about an individual who were the victims, as the effects affected everyone.
Mrs Dorothy Njemanze, Founder of Mrs Dorothy Njemanze Foundation who also spoke on her experience as a victim at age of eight, said that child and girl-abuse was totally unacceptable.
Njemanze said it was time to start defending the right of victims of such abuses, while calling for implementation of Child’s rights Act in every state.
Sexual Offences Awareness & Victims Rehabilitation Initiative (SOAR Initiative), Mrs Chinyere Eyoh, said everyone needed to speak up against violence against children, girls and women.
Eyoh commended the and said there was need to ensure that every child was protected in order for them not to go through the
trauma they went through as victims.
A veteran journalist and Chief Executive Officer of the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Mrs Moji Makanjuola, described gender based violence and sexual abuse as time bomb that must be addressed.
Makanjuola, who was also the Master of the Ceremony, said that the effect of sexual violence was beyond the trauma the victims went through.
Highlights of the occasion included musical performance by Nigerian artistes Waje Iruobe and Timi Dakolo, choreography on flash mob Re-enactment led by Kaffy.
