UNITED NATIONS (UN) INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS (16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM).

The United nations (UN) set aside 25th November every year to mark the international day for the elimination of violence against women and girls. This day marks the launch of the 16 days of activism which begins from 25th November and will continue till 10th December 2021, which also marks the international human rights day. Since 2000, the United nations (UN) has set aside these days annually to raise global voices and to take actions to put an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in all forms by 2030. Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) is one of the most devastating human rights violations in our society today against women and girl. Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) has enormous costs for the survivor's health, safety and well- being which will lead to tremendous costs for society. Women and girls deserve to live without the constant fear of rape, domestic abuse,or other forms of violence.

We should discourage the culture of silence of victims of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) which perpetuates violence against women and girls. We must all learn to speak out today to ensure that stiffer penalties are put in place by the government with stringent enforcement to punish offenders of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) to serve as deterrent to other intending offenders. The coming of covid-19 pandemic in late 2019 exacerbates the rate of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) across the world. The national lockdown policy by the governments of different countries of the world to curb the spread of covid-19 saw an exponential rise in cases of sexual and domestic violence against women and girls across the globe. Studies have shown that violence against women and girls starts early.

 1 in 4 young women and girls will have been subjected to violence by an intimate partner by the time they reach their mid- twenties. 1 in 3 women and girls still experience physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner, and amid covid -19 domestic abuse has surged worldwide. Based on pooled estimates from a 2021 study of 13 countries, finding from women count's new report (UN Women) measuring the shadow pandemic; violence against women during covid19, revealed that women are feeling less safe at home as conflict such as domestic violence has increased. The reports shows that 1 in 2 women think that domestic violence is common. 

1 in 4 women feel more unsafe at home since covid19. Only 1 in 10 women would seek help from the police if they experienced domestic violence. 7 in 10 think domestic violence increased during covid19. Sexual violence, physical violence and psychological violence are all forms of gender based violence (GBV) that leaves an indelible trauma on the victims to live with for the rest of their lives on earth.  Another form of violence against women and girls is human trafficking. According to the United Nations Women, adult women account for nearly half (49%) of all human trafficking victims detected globally. Women and girls together account for 72%, with girls representing more than 3 out of every 4 child trafficking victims. More than 4 out of every 5 trafficked women and nearly 3 out of every 4 trafficked girls are trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. During these 16 days of activism to end gender- based violence, united nations (UN) Women is urging everyone to take small actions that can have a big impact when it comes to ending violence against women - starting by sending a clear message to all victims : "you are NOT alone".

Violence against women and girls takes different dimensions and another dimension of violence against women and girls is the traditional and cultural practices of female genital mutilation (FGM). This practice violates bodily autonomy of women and girls and also a violation of their fundamental human rights. Globally, over 200million women and girls have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) and at least 4million women and girls are at risk of undergoing the practice each year. Around 1 in 4 women and girls or 52million worldwide experienced female genital mutilation (FGM). Public education awareness and sensitization campaign programs are necessary tools needed to stem the tide of this age long traditional and cultural practice to nip it in the bud and save millions of women and girls globally from this harmful practice that endangers their lives and put them at risk of bleeding to death due to genital mutilation.

Child marriage is another serious violation on the rights of young girls globally. Most vulnerable girls are forced into early marriage by their parents as a norm and practice of their culture, custom, religion, tradition and for selfish economic gains too. Due to this, in most cases the resultant effects of this act brings diseases like Vesico vaginal fistula (VVF) and other related diseases associated with early child birth to these young girls. This practice is a gross violation on the rights of the girl child to make her choice and also to determine her choice of who to marry as a life partner. Globally, about 1 in 5 girls is,or was a child bride. Studies have shown that almost 750million women and girls globally were married off before they turn 18. And for us to put an end to child marriage, we must take girls to school and not make them wives,we must give them pen and not penis in their growing up years(formative years) education empower girls. We must increase communities awareness of children rights and also demand governments to set the legal marriage age to 18 and enforce laws to protect children. In the words of Malala Yousafzai (United nations messenger of peace and activist of female education) she opined that " education is the right of every child, and especially for girls, this right should not be neglected. If you want to go forward, we have to give education to girls".

In conclusion, ending violence against women and girls requires a community- based, multi- pronged approach and multi- stakeholders involvement, hence l call on all governments, global leaders (duty bearers) international organizations, non- governmental organizations, civil society actors, citizens ( rights holders) to intensify their efforts to raise public awareness and proffer lasting solutions to eradicate this menace in our society for good.

#GlobalGoals #EndViolenceAgainstWomenAndGirls #StopTheViolence #EndSGBV #OrangeTheWorld #16DaysOfActivism2021 #UNWomen #SDGs #SDG5 #SDG2030 #SDGgoals #Agenda2030 #nigeriasdgs #ossap_sdgs #LeaveNoOneBehind #UN_nigeria #SpotlightEndViolence #SpotlightNG #euinnigeria UKinNigeria #ECOWAS #AU #UNDP #UNICEF #UNESCO #CYPLP #UN.

 BRIEF PERSONAL PROFILE OF ENOBONG EKWERE - SOCIAL ACTIVIST/ DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN NIGERIA.

Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, vlogger, environmental/ human rights activist, peace practitioner, grassroot social mobilizer, SDGs advocate and a global citizen. Enobong Ekwere also have vast knowledge and professional expertise in copy writing, content creation, online and offline media campaigning. He is the program manager of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP), an organic, volunteer of experts, youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate of Public Administration (Upper Credit) from the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. Enobong Ekwere holds a proficiency certificate in management from the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered (NIM) Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a graduate member of the institute (Associate member in view). He works with young people in local communities across Nigeria localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs)  (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) and positive peace frameworks in Nigeria, accelerating action online and offline, engaging duty bearers and policy makers to be accountable for it's implementation by 2030. He is a strong advocate of peace, good governance and democracy, accountability in government, freedom of information, freedom of expression, access to information, free press, social justice and social inclusion. As a youth advocate and a global leader who loves to see social reforms in the society, he uses his personalized blog to write compelling stories on developmental and topical issues on national and global concern that shapes and transform people's lives and impact the larger society for knowledge transfer and lifelong learning. He engages in community service and volunteerism, community outreach, social mobilization and advocacy tours to hard to reach local communities in Nigeria advocating and advancing the cause of the SDGs (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) so that no community and youth in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large would be left behind. CYPLP as an organization works primarily in serving vulnerable population of children, youth, elderly persons, persons with disabilities (PWD's) and women in unserved, underserved, underrepresented and marginalized local communities in Nigeria.

My areas of competence in peace education and peace building process includes;

1. Conflict mapping, sensitivity and analysis

2. Negotiation, mediation and reconciliation

3. Interreligious and intercultural dialogue

4. Protection of civilians

5. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)

6. Security sector reforms (SSR)

7. Mainstreaming gender in peace keeping

8. Mainstreaming gender in peace and state building

9. Crisis management/resolution

10. Media and conflict

11. Conflict and natural resources

12. Conflict prevention

13. Peace support operations (PSOs)

14. Post- conflict reconstruction and development

15. Humanitarian action

16. Transnational organized crime

17. Piracy and maritime security

18. Preventing violent extremism (PVE) etc.

Enobong Ekwere has an extensive professional working experience in projects such as;

1. PRELT (Prevention of radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism)

2. BRAVE (Building resilience against violent extremism)

3. iDOVE (Interfaith dialogue on violent extremism) in local communities across Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.

I have initiated two projects to counter religious and violent extremism among the youths in local communities in Nigeria, and one empowerment program, these are;

1. CAARE ( Countering Attitudes Against Religious Extremism)

2. CAAVE (Countering Attitudes Against Violent Extremism)

3. NEET (Not in Education, Empowerment or Training) an empowerment training program aimed at training vulnerable population of young people in local communities in Nigeria with leadership skills, entrepreneurial and vocational skills acquisition.

He can be reached via:

Tel/WhatsApp: +2347082558952

Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com

            : enobongekwere825@gmail.com

MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/enobong.ekwere.372

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/Enobongekwere2

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/enobongekwere825

LINKEDIN: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enobong-ekwere-3271b116b

MY ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/cyplp.net.ng/

TWITTER: 

http://www.twitter.com/youngpeoplefor/

INSTAGRAM: 

http://www.instagram.com/cyplp/

WEBSITE: 

www.cyplp.net.ng

INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER - INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (IHRC) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.