US pledges support for groups tackling gender violence in Nigeria

The United States Chargé d’Affaires, David Greene, has hailed local organisations tackling sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria, pledging continued American assistance towards protecting vulnerable women and girls.

Punch Online reports that “gender-based violence is a human rights abuse, a form of discrimination, and a manifestation of unequal power based on gender.”

Speaking Saturday at a “No Tolerance March” held in Lagos, Greene first applauded the march organisers, the Women at Risk International Foundation for offering free and comprehensive support services to abuse survivors.

“I want to thank Dr. Kemi Dasilva-Ibru and her team from the Women at Risk International Foundation for putting together this important event. Dr Kemi and her team are doing fantastic work at their centre in Yaba,” he noted.

The envoy stressed that preventing and responding to GBV globally is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy and human rights promotion efforts.

Greene referenced America’s updated strategy guiding interventions abroad like awareness programmes and policy reforms across nations battling epidemic violence against females.

“In December 2022, the United States released an action-oriented update to the US Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally. This strategy drives a comprehensive, unified, interagency response to gender-based violence abroad,” he outlined.

He revealed that over $50 million has been invested through the US Mission in Nigeria to advance gender equality and equip women and girls to escape GBV threats.

“Through US Mission Nigeria, more than 50,000 girls and young women have been trained on how to escape dangerous GBV-related situations through USAID’s flagship “No Means No” program.

“The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, via PEPFAR, provides support to integrate HIV treatment services for GBV victims.  Close to 20,000 GBV survivors have participated in treatment programs to include viral suppression and reduction of HIV acquisition,” he noted.

“The US government, and US Mission Nigeria in particular, will continue to support you in these critical efforts. It is an honour to march with our partners as we walk towards ending gender-based violence in Nigeria,” Greene pledged.