European union, united nations invite penpushing media for webinar on ending violence against women, girls
The joint European Union/United Nations Spotlight Initiative have invited Penpushing media as participant as the global bodies set to host traditional and religious leaders in Nigeria to a virtual roundtable conference on ending violence against women and girls through enhanced community surveillance.
Penpushing reports that, the invite stated that the webinar followed the declaration of the State of Emergency by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) against gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria,
The statement explained that the virtual roundtable conference is scheduled to hold Thursday, 6thAugust 2020 at 10.00am via zoom <https://undp.zoom.us/s/92216437337> Password: 492045
Penpushing further reports that speakers include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council Islamic Council for Islamic Affairs.
The release added that others speakers are; President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Benebo Fubara-Manuel; Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen; EU Commissioner on Spotlight, Janez Lenarcic; UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, as well as survivors, Women Advocates and Child Protection Networks(CPN).
Penpushing also reports that, the statement explained that through this engagement, the Spotlight Initiative expects to secure the commitment of traditional and religious leaders to further the process of transforming social norms and to develop action plans on ending GBV and harmful practices.
The statement emphasized that, engaging traditional and religious leaders is a key approach of the prevention strategy of the spotlight initiative aimed at fostering positive collaborations with critical stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to end gender-based violence and harmful practices targeting women and girls and in promoting SRHR.
‘This builds on past engagement with religious and traditional leaders, including with the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT) on the EVAC campaign, and holding them accountable to the communique signed at a Consultative Forum held on 26 February 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria’, the statement said.
Penpushing reports that, the virtual roundtable also places in context the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against women and girls which has disrupted the socio-economic and cultural settings of families and communities.
The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between European Union and United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.
Penpushing further reports that, it was launched with a seed funding commitment of €500 million from the European Union, represent an unprecedented global effort to invest in gender equality as a precondition and driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Spotlight Initiative is responding to all forms of violence against women and girls, with a particular focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, femicide, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation.
‘As a demonstration fund for action on the Sustainable Development Goals, we are demonstrating that a significant, concerted and comprehensive investment in gender equality and ending violence can make a transformative difference in the lives of women and girls’, the statement added.
Penpushing also reports that, in Nigeria, the Spotlight Initiative is being implemented in six states including Adamawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
