PIQUED by the incessant cases of rape in the country, the Federal Government said it is at verge of launching a national campaign against gender-based violence in the country. The Ministry of Information and Culture is to partner the Ministry of Women Affairs to launch a national campaign against rape.
Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed announced the planned initiative yesterday in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, on an advocacy visit.
Mohammed said: “As a matter of fact, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch a national campaign against rape and gender-based violence. This campaign will include advocacy, public sensitisation and social mobilisation.
“The campaign is necessary not only to raise the level of awareness about rape and gender-based violence, but to also ensure that Nigerians own the fight against the abhorrent and repulsive criminal acts.”
The minister assured his guests that the government will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to stamp out rape and other forms of violence against women.
“I can assure you that the Federal Government will do everything possible to stem the growing tide of rape and gender-based violence in the country,” he said.
Ojukwu said the commission was carrying out a week of activism, with the theme: Equality and Dignity for Women, as part of its advocacy against rape and gender-based violence.
He urged the police and other first responders to be more proactive in checking cases of gender-based violence in the country.
The NHRC boss sought the minister’s assistance for the campaign, especially to utilise the ministry’s public information organs to create more awareness on the issue.