Canadian envoy tasks govt on gender friendly policies
L-R GMAA-K Project cordinator for Kano State Ruth Okafor, Canadian envoy James Christoff, Executive Director CODE Mallam Hamzat Lawal. Photo Credit: Julian Osamoto/ Radio Nigeria
The Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, James Christoff, has called on government and stakeholders across Nigeria to “Embrace Equality” by actions through the enactment of policies that will protect women and girls.
Speaking in Abuja, at the launch of the Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender‑Based Violence (GMAA‑K) conducted in Kano State by connected Development CODE, Christoff, said Nigeria faces several SGBV crisis, at home, and other places which has become a norm while often times perpetrators goes unpunished.
“Under Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy, we place gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls at the heart of everything we do. We believe that this is key to building a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world”.
Mr Christoff explained that the GMAA-K initiative by CODE was aimed at galvanizing action against GBV in Kano especially and empowering gender advocates as well as Media to increase advocacy on the VAPP Act.
Earlier, the Executive Director CODE Mallam Hamzat Lawal, stated that the report on (SGBV) has spread widely in Nigeria, with 30 per cent of women aged 15-49 having experienced sexual abuse.
Lawal, expressed disappointment over the failure of Kano state parliament to enact the Child Protection and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill (VAPP) in the state.
According to him, the action plan got inputs from various state and non-state actors. “As of December 1 2022, the State Assembly held a public hearing on the Child Protection Bill, but the house failed to pass the bills as committed to all stakeholders”.
“It is disheartening to say that policies such as this that ought to protect women and children in society are given a back seat, in Kano state.”
CODE however, advised government to focus exclusively on the VAPP and Penal Code amendment while ensuring that Interventions that mounts advocacies on key stakeholders for adequate gender-responsive budgeting in Kano state are supported.
Reporting by Julian Osamoto; Editing Annabel Nwachukwu