The Justice, Development and Peace Centre (JDPC), Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, has called for the establishment of more shelters across the country for victims of gender-based violence.

JDPC made the call on Saturday in a communique issued at the end of the 2021 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In the communique signed by its Director, Raymond Anoliefo, the JDPC said most victims stay back in their homes and experience more violence because they “do not know where to go to.”

According to Reverend Father Anoliefo, “So shelters are important, not just shelters to lay their heads, but shelter where they are offered empowerment.

“Shelters where they are given entrepreneurship training that will set them up to live independently.”

The centre said violence against women was one of the major contemporary issues of the 21st century, stressing for better advocacy for the protection of the rights and welfare of women.

The centre also noted the need to sensitise and ignite conversations to confront the menace.

It called for better enforcement of the plethora of laws enacted for the protection of women from violence in Nigeria and formulate gender-based policies and establish a framework to monitor the enforcement of relevant laws and policies.

The centre harped on the need to create awareness among the populace on the scourge of violence against women, and to equip and train those who work with victims of gender-based violence.

It said there was need to work toward the inclusion of gender education into the national curriculum across all levels of education to help curtail the root causes of violence against women.

“There is need to make adequate budgetary allocations to relevant MDAs responsible for sensitising and supporting the populace on gender rights issues.

The centre called on all stakeholders to prioritise the protection of the women and girls from all violence, and “provide an enabling environment for all women and girls to thrive in the Nigerian society.” 

According to JDPC, “this is in view of the foregoing and the drive towards achieving the targets of the Goal 5 of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.”

(NAN)