Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
The United States has reinstated its commitment to work with so many Nigerian partners to end the scourge of gender-based violence.
U.S. Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Lagos F. John Bray gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Program.
According to him, violence against women and girls is an issue of international human rights and national security.
He said the consequences of widespread violence extend beyond the immediate injury or economic loss.
Bray noted that the social and psychological damage of gender-based violence affects survivors, their children, families, and entire communities.
He said, “But as we say in the United States, “talk is cheap” and we ask, “what have you actually done to address the problem?”
Bray stated further, “At the Department of State we created an office, the office of Global Women’s Issues, to oversee issues related to the development and protection of women and children. Through this office, we have implemented programs throughout the world to strengthen and support the rights of women. Under the guidance of then Secretary of State Clinton we made women’s issues part of our foreign policy and as a result women’s issues are now routinely included in social and economic development projects and programs.”
He explained that the US Mission, Nigeria’s Public Affairs Section and USAID have partnered with non-governmental agencies and the Nigerian government to raise awareness of gender-based violence, human rights violations, and to ensure that all girls receive an education.
He said, “Our efforts serve to bolster what the Nigerian government and people are doing. Since it adopted the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in 1985, the Nigerian government has continued to work towards eliminating domestic violence.”
