Stop-VAWIP Hosts Bisi Fayemi, Yemi Oyebanji In A Live Radio Programme, Urges More Women Participation In Politics

The Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) has in its campaign recognized the link between

gender-based electoral violence and the low level of participation of women in politics which aims at enhancing women’s active participation in politics and electoral processes by mitigating violence against women in politics.

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The wife of the Ekiti State Governor,

Erelu Bisi Fayemi in a radio interview said violence against women takes many forms and has continued to take new forms and dimensions. Some of them are but are not limited to physical, economic, emotional, sexual, and other forms of violence. 

This violence negatively impacts women’s health and general well-being. It also has a negative effect on Nigeria’

s political and socio-economic development. The objectives of the Stop-VAWIP campaign are  to raise awareness of the harmful effects of violence

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against women in politics and engage relevant stakeholders to mitigate it; to encourage women to actively participate in the electoral process, and  to track and respond to cases of violence against

women in politics in the election period.

further objectives:

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To understand the status of implementation of the Ekiti Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law in Ekiti State.

To explore opportunities for sustaining the Implementation of the Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law in Ekiti State.

To brief and elicit support from the new administration in the implementation of the Ekiti Women Policy Agenda and Ekiti Youth Policy Agenda.

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Deliberating during the town hall, Her Excellency, Erelu Bisi Fayemi took listeners down memory lane sharing how the GBV response programs and law started in Ekiti state from humble

beginnings and grew to the point where it is now institutionalized. She stated that the VAPP/GBV prohibition law is now established as a comprehensive legal framework that protects women and promotes a culture where women can live freely and safely. 

As of June 2022, 32 states in Nigeria have domesticated the VAPP law, mainly because of the marching order given by the Governors’ Forum. It became a matter of concern because one out of three women is faced with or have suffered from GBV. This was to promote a culture whereby women can live their lives in dignity. 

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Some of the lessons we learned and applied along the way were the linkages between Education and GBV prevention. Consequently, we developed a GBV policy for educational institutions. We also embarked on community engagement working with traditional and

religious institutions.

We saw the need to establish an effective GBV management committee, as MDAs’ and development partner contributed to the process of mitigating GBV in Ekiti State.

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It is evident that one cannot address GBV without paying attention to the economic state of women because poverty fuels women and children’s vulnerability leading to poor life

choices and outcomes.

The town hall also provided the opportunity for participants to make recommendations for strategic actions in implementing the VAPP/GBV prohibition law in Ekiti State.

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The town hall also hosted the incoming First Lady (Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji) who shared her intentions and that they will continue to give women agenda priority attention after the end of the Dr. Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti state. 

Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji gave her commitment to lead and continue to advocate for the implementation of the Ekiti Women Policy Agenda, 2022,

GBV prevention strategic plan, Political Office (Gender Composition) Bill, 2022 when signed into law and other programs and plans because she is passionate about these issues.

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To make Ekiti a model state for implementing a GBV law, Bisi Fayemi advocates for funding of different Ministry Department and Agency (MDA), training more gender specialists and social workers, to decentralize the access to GBV services in the state. by

establishing more Sexual Assualt and Referal Centres across the Senatorial districts.

She urged the incoming administration of Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to include “gender updates” as part of the State Executive Council briefing. This is to ensure that GBV and other related

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issues are addressed at the highest level of the state.

The Government should institutionalize the funding mechanism. Ensure the commissioner of budget and planning is

a friend, advocate that the line ministries have funds for GBV and others have funding framework for economic empowerment of women.

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Reorganize campaign targeted at building the network of ‘He4She’

s and organizing programs to mentor men and young men with the notion of positive masculinity to protect women in

the society.

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BIGIF through the program got an “instant justice” for a 16 year old teenage pregnancy survivor who is kept in her abuser house in Ado Ekiti, as the First Lady gave a marching order to the

concerned ministry to get the girl supported and bring her abuser to book in 24 hours.

The convener of the Stop Violence Against Women in Politics (Stop-VAWIP) commend the efforts of the First Lady to ensuring the eradication of GBV in Ekiti State. BIGIF urged all the stakeholders

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including civil society organizations (CSOs) to continually support the incoming government and the First Lady in the fight against GBV and the advancement of women’s agenda in Ekiti State.