16 Days Activism: Minister Advocates Death Penalty, Life Imprisonment For Perpetrators Of GBV

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, has called for a united national effort to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV)......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>

She also advocated for a stronger legal reforms that could include life imprisonment or even the death penalty for perpetrators.

She emphasized that current laws contain “loopholes” that allow offenders to evade severe punishment.

Suleiman made this call on Monday in Abuja during a media briefing where she officially launched the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

The theme of this year’s campaign is “Unite Campaign: Towards Beijing to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.”

The Minister also called for more inclusive action to address the root causes of violence, stressing that GBV is not just a women’s issue but a societal problem that demands the active engagement of men and boys.

“Right now, our laws have loopholes that allow people to commit these crimes and escape with minimal consequences. If you look at the punitive measures in the VAPP and Child Rights Acts, they give offenders the opportunity to receive fines or lesser penalties. This is not enough; we need life imprisonment or, in extreme cases, the death sentence,” said Ibrahim, advocating for harsher punitive measures to deter offenders,” she said.

“Gender-based violence is not just a women’s issue. We must engage men and boys as allies in this fight. I urge you to advocate for positive masculinity and challenge patriarchal attitudes. We must foster a culture of respect and equality,” she added.

The Minister further emphasized that the fight against gender-based violence is a collective responsibility, one that requires coordinated efforts across all sectors, including government, civil society, the private sector, and individuals.

“Violence against women and girls is preventable. It is our collective responsibility—as government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, the media, individuals, development partners, and donor communities—to join these efforts and promote a society free from gender-based violence,” she urged.

Ibrahim expressed confidence in the political will of Nigeria’s leadership, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, whose support she believes will propel the campaign forward. She also highlighted the significance of the campaign’s theme, referencing the historic commitments made at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing nearly 30 years ago.

“For me, this year’s theme, ‘Unite Campaign: Towards Beijing to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls,’ is particularly significant. That historic Conference started a global movement toward gender equality, and its declaration, popularly referred to as the Beijing Platform for Action, remains the blueprint for a world free from discrimination and violence,” Ibrahim stated.

The Minister further addressed Nigeria’s troubling statistics on gender-based violence, revealing that 30% of Nigerian women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. She called on media partners to amplify the voices of survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and avoid victim-blaming.