The Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen has called on traditional and religious leaders to facilitate discussions at community, local government and state levels to end Gender-Based Violence, GBV.
She made the appeal in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Ministry of Women Affairs Olujimi Oyetomi in Abuja, at the end of a two-day meeting with northern traditional rulers and religious leaders and the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammed Abubakar.
Tallen noted that the 36 State Governors declaration of state of emergency on GBV and Federal Executive Council, FEC’s approval of Child Rights Act, to curb GBV is welcomed.
She also applauded President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, for supporting the fught.
In his remarks, the Sultan advised traditional rulers and religious leaders in the North, to set rules and ensure that the girl-child was safe and secured in their communities. He said they should also strengthen alliances with networks, champion, encourage the influence among people of their communities.
Also in a goodwill message, the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ulla Muella, expressed pleasure that culture and religion were also powerful influences that could end the Gender-Based Violence, and charged religious and traditional leaders to utilise their position to achieve zero GBV.
