Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged both religious and traditional leaders to champion the fight against Gender- Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
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Fagbemi gave the advice in Abuja at the Knowledge-Enhancing Session on GBV Prevention and Access to Justice for Religious Rulers, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with UN Women, with the funding support from Ford Foundation.
He tasked both religious and traditional leaders to build peace, defend the vulnerable, and challenge every culture of silence or shame surrounding abuse.
Describing traditional and religious leaders as “custodians of culture and faith and moral compasses in their communities,” Fagbemi said they are critical stakeholders in the broader criminal justice system.
While acknowledging the limited role the justice system plays in dismantling gender inequality, he pointed out that “legislation alone is not enough.”
According to him, “Strong legal frameworks will enhance accountability, promote gender equality, and create a more inclusive and just society.
“To tackle these challenges, we must confront the underlying beliefs that sustain them.
“We must empower women and girls through education, economic opportunity, and protection. And we must engage those who hold influence in their communities- –you, our traditional rulers and religious leaders.
“The Federal Ministry of Justice fully recognises the vital but limited role the justice system plays in dismantling gender inequality.
“But legislation alone is not enough. The powerful influence that you the traditional and religious leaders wield in shaping norms, values, and behaviours in our society cannot be overstated.”
Also speaking, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, decried the rampant cases of GBV across the country.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim revealed that in 2023 alone, that over 19,000 GBV cases were officially reported across Nigeria.
She said: “These statistics are more than just numbers; they reflect lives devastated, dignity stolen, and families torn apart.
“The pain and suffering behind these figures demand our urgent attention, collective action, and attitudinal change.”
The Minister identified the moral breakdown of families as one of the factors responsible for the escalating cases of GBV, adding that “Family cohesion is the first and most fundamental firewall against GBV. When the family unit fails, society falters.”
She, however, disclosed that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, that the mandate of her ministry has been expanded not only to prioritise the protection of women and children but also to ensure promotion of family cohesion, peaceful parenting, and intergenerational stability.
She emphasised that these responsibilities would not be achieved without the religious and traditional leaders.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, however, regretted that some religious leaders have not lived up to expectation in setting the moral standard through their exemplary conduct.
“But we must also acknowledge, with humility and heartbreak, that some faith leaders have been implicated in the very violations we seek to end.
“The media has brought to light cases of young women and even children being abused by persons in positions of spiritual authority; a betrayal not only of the victims, but of the divine trust placed in our religious institutions.
“Permit me to emphasize that no clerical title, robe, or pulpit should shield wrongdoing.
“Faith-Based Organisations must rise to the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and protection.
“You must institute clear codes of conduct, survivor-sensitive redress mechanisms, and a zero-tolerance stance for abuse within your ranks.”
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