Minister Expresses Worry Over Increasing Rate Of Domestic Violence

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, has expressed worry over the increasing cases of domestic and gender-based violence, lamenting that it is against the human rights of women in the country.

Tallen made this known during a peaceful campaign by the Women in Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) with the theme, 'PENGASSAN Women Say No to Domestic/Gender Based Violence' in Abuja.

Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary/Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Idris Mohammed, the minister stated that one in every three women and young girls has experienced domestic violence, regretting that it affects them to a large extent, as the fear this creates bears down on the victim.

"Gender-based violence is on the increase in Nigeria.

"This is a violation of human rights which can impact on anyone, especially with women and girls bearing the brunt, with the latest being the death of the popular singer, Late Mrs. Osinachi Nwachukwu.

"One out of every three women and girls aged 15-49 years has been a victim of violence and one in every three has experienced physical violence in Nigeria.

“Domestic violence is not only a violation of women and girls’ rights, but the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators and the fear generated by the actions has affected all women and girls involved."

Tallen further revealed that the Ministry and other stakeholders in steming the tide of the ugly menace has launched a series of strategies to keep in check the activities of perpetrators.

This she noted includes the launching of the sex offenders’ register aimed at naming and shaming GBV perpetrators, as well as the national GVB data-collation tool to enhance SGBV data collection by relevant stakeholders.