The EU-UN Spotlight Initiative has reiterated the need for Governments to support traditional leaders to eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Nigeria.
Ms Khadija Nuhu, Spotlight Initiative Communications Coordinator at UNICEF, told newsmen in Yola that traditional leaders were doing their best with respect to sensitising their subjects on VAWG.
“The traditional leaders are doing their best and we want them to double their efforts, especially on prevention of VAWG from happening.
“Governments also need to come in and support them to do more so as to eliminate VAWG in the society”, she said.
Nuhu advised traditional leaders and parents to report VAWG cases to relevant authorities for the survivors to be taken care of and punitive measures taken against perpetrators, to serve as deterrent to others.
According to her, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative is currently holding dialogue with media practitioners in Adamawa on ethical reporting, advocacy and solutions journalism to eliminate VAWG.
Nuhu added that similar dialogue was conducted in Abuja, Cross River Lagos, Ebonyi and Sokoto states, all to help eliminate VAWG in the country.
She further said that in every nine women, one was sexually violated hence the need for stakeholders to help in eliminating VAWG.
