Amnesty International harps on need to protect women from femicide, abuses, violence
Amnesty International harps on need to protect women from femicide, abuses, violence
By John Okezie
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
A non-governmental organisation, Amnesty International, has stressed the need to protect women from femicide and other forms of abuses and violence.
Coordinator, Supporter’s Group of Amnesty International, Osun State, Mr Joshua Oyebode, made the remark during a sensitisation rally, on Saturday in Osogbo.
Femicide is the killing of a woman or girl particularly by men, on account of her gender.
Speaking in commemoration of the United Nations March 8 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, Oyebode said creating awareness against femicide would go a long way in ensuring the safety of women from any form of violence.
He revealed that no fewer than 149 women were killed across the country in 2024 due to violence against women.
His words: “The need for collective responsibility in tackling the menace of femicide becomes paramount to ensure a violence-free society for women.
“The Nigerian constitution, in section 33, guaranteed the right to life of any individuals and we have to look at the implementation of such laws to avoid any form of unlawful killings especially women.”
In his remarks, Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Osun chapter, Mr Akinbode Oluwasegun, said the wrongful killing of women in the country must be stopped by the relevant authorities.
The development, he said would be possible through the implementation of tough policies to guarantee their rights.
Oluwasegun explained that femicide cases were on the high side compared to that of the killing of men, especially in Nigeria.
He described women as the weaker vessels who need to be treated carefully with dignity and respect by the opposite sex.
He said: “The rate of killing of women by men for rituals every day is on the increase and such must be stopped. They are harassed, maltreated and abused for unjust reasons”.
Miss Omowunmi Akanbi, a member of Teen’s Foundation, a group, said the numbers of women killed in January across the country were many, highlighting the need for increased awareness to curb femicide.
Akanbi said government must come up with vibrant policies to tame the menace, of which had continued to put fear in the heart of so many women across the country.
She explained that the killing of a woman could also be synonymous to killing a nation because of their key roles in the society.
