Increasing violence against women worry women lawyers

The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria, has expressed concern over the increase in violence against women, especially rape, sexual assault, female circumcision and genital mutilation in the country.

Mrs Hauwa Shekarau, the National President of the federation, expressed the worry in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

She appealed to the media to lead the vanguard in the fight against all harmful and discriminatory practices on women, children and other persons.

Shekarau called for the effective implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 and its domestication in the states as well as total compliance with the NAPTIP Act.

She said the Act was a legal frame work borne out of genuine desire to address the high incidences of violence against women and prohibited female circumcision and genital mutilation.

According to her, the law frowns at forceful ejection from home without due legal process; forced isolation or separation from family and friends, and emotional, verbal and psychological abuse.

The Act also prohibits harmful widowhood practices; abandonment of spouse, children and other dependants without sustenance.

The FIDA president said victims of violence had the rights to receive medical, psychological, social and legal assistance through governmental and non-governmental agencies.

She said women also had the rights to be informed of the availability of affordable health, legal and social services and to be rehabilitated and reintegrated.