Nigeria must empower women and girls if the country must attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed has said.
UN Deputy Scribe argued that for a nation to make meaningful progress, women must be part of decision-making body of the society.
Mohammed spoke in Abuja Thursday on the findings of the UN mission on issues affecting women in Nigeria.
She called on governments and international agencies to focus energies on supporting women and girls in Nigeria.
Amina who until her appointment by the world body was the country’s minister of Environment also called for investment in areas that would bring greater empowerment for women as well as ensuring education of the girl child, noting that there would be a reduction in the number of cases of violence against women and girls when they are empowered.
She commended Nigeria’s efforts at addressing issues of violence against women and urged the country to do more, adding that the UN plans to scale up assistance for women and girls by investing more in the 17 SDGs relating to women and girls.
“The level of sexual violence we are seeing in the camps and communities is so alarming and that I why we are seeking support from the international community to help integrate the women back to the society so that they can continue their normal life”, he said.
Mohammed in urging Nigeria to have a zero tolerance for violence against women and girls however urged the nation to take the issue of development seriously, claiming that there is a nexus between poverty and violence against women and girls.
Speaking on their meeting with the rescued Chibok Girls, the UN envoy commended the spirit in which the girls are handling the matter, stating that “They have overcome the initial trauma, and are now talking about their dreams”.
Also speaking, UN under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN women, Phumzile Mlanbo-Ngcuka, while calling for stiffer punishment for abusers of women and girls urged states that are yet to domestic the violence against women and girls act to do so.
She as part of effort to help victims of violence recover and adjust back to society, the UN introduced the method of safe spacing in camps and communities.
She disclosed that the UN is also considering a situation where more female soldiers would be in charge of women in most of the IDPs camps as well as putting women in charge of food and welfare.
