The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged the wives of traditional rulers to change negative social norms and forms of gender-based violence (GBV) across the territory.

The mandate secretary of the secretariat, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, disclosed this during a meeting with the Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers Association (WOFCTTRA) in Abuja.

Ms Benjamins-Laniyi described the initiative as a “unique model” of community engagement for collective action towards ending violence against children, women and girls.

She added that WOFCTTRA, with representatives from the 17 chiefdoms across the six area councils of the FCT, would serve as a reference point and a formidable force in community sensitisation and mobilisation.

The secretary said the WOFCTTRA would be engaged through the FCT women’s affairs secretariat’s community engagement department.

“The platform will particularly play critical roles in implementing programmes and policies of the FCTA towards strengthening child protection and ending sexual and gender-based violence at the community level,” she said.

Ibrahim Nurudeen, programme officer on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, UN Women Country Office, described the initiative as “laudable”.

According to him, engaging the wives of the traditional leaders aligns with the UN Women’s priority on engaging traditional authority in transforming social norms and addressing the root causes of GBV in communities.

He said the initiative would enlarge UN Women’s engagement, with women participating meaningfully by bringing their perspectives on how harmful social norms and practices could be transformed and made better for everyone.

The group’s president, Hauwa Adamu, thanked Ms Benjamins-Laniyi for giving them a platform and a voice in matters that affect women, adolescents and girls in the FCT.

Ms Adamu, the wife of the Ona of Abaji and chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the FCT, said the wives of the traditional leaders have been confined to their houses and have not come out.

“We have virtually not been seen or heard until now; we have been left behind the doors in our homes, receiving instructions from our husbands.

“Our homes also serve as safe spaces for lost children, battered wives, abused girls and children who later return home without us having a say in the outcome of the incidents.

“In most cases, such incidents are swept under the carpet under the guise of not shaming relations and neighbours who perpetrate the act,” she said.

She explained that the wives came together, joining forces to say perpetrators of GBV, who left survivors emotionally and psychologically broken, should not go unpunished.

She described Ms Benjamins-Laniyi’s support and inclusion of the group in governance processes as “life-changing”.

(NAN)