The European Union (EU) says it has spent over €425 million on overall gender-sensitive actions in Nigeria.
The EU says it is also investigating €40 million on a new Education and Youth Empowerment programme aimed at improving access to safe, equitable quality education for girls in rural and under-served communities.
According to the EU, the harmful practices have a devastating impact on individuals and families, resulting in deepening poverty and perpetuating a cycle of abuse.
The EU said this in Abuja at a training for traditional and religious leaders where it said to break the circle of inequality, girls’ education is key.
It stated, “This is why the EU is investing in a new Education and Youth Empowerment programme (40mEUR), aimed to improve access to safe, equitable quality education for girls in rural and under-served communities.
“In the five years of its implementation (2021-2025), at least 85 per cent of all EU programmes, in all our focus areas, in all partner countries, must have gender equality and women’s rights as principal or significant objectives (overall gender-sensitive action in Nigeria would be over 425 million euros).”
In her speech, the United Nations (UN) Women representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong says statistics remain; however that Female Genital Mutilation is at 25 per cent prevalence despite the practice being outlawed by the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
Eyong also said 33 per cent of women and girls have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
She adds, “It is imperative, therefore, that we accelerate efforts to address the root causes of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and harmful practices (HP). UN Women have invested in landmark research to highlight linkages between customary and formal law. The findings of this research have informed the content of this workshop and provide a strong case for the elimination of violence whether in the formal or customary court. There is no longer the excuse of ‘culture’ in defense of violence and harmful practices.
“To this end, the United Nations through UN women and other spotlight implementing agencies will continue to advocate for local ownership of the front-line service centers to ensure survivors of FGM and those at risk of this practice receive the protection, access to justice and support that they deserve.”
