Violence Against Women is REAL, Men must play a key role. #HearMeToo

In Nigeria, 1–4 women or even more have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence. This number increases on a daily.

The 16 days International Day advocacy for the Elimination of Violence Against Women kicked off on November 25th and continues until December 10th.

This #16daysActivism the United Nations says it is to honour and amplify the voices of survivors and grassroots activists. Under the UN theme, “Orange the World: #HearMeToo,”

This Global advocacy for the next 16 days issues a call to listen to and believe survivors, to end the culture of silencing and to put survivors at the centre of our responses.

One in three women experience violence in their lifetime, across all social status, class, race, country or age group. That’s one too many. For many of this women, speaking out can have fatal consequences, and survival is a long and complicated journey.

Violence against women and girls manifests itself in many different forms. Whether at home, on the streets, it is a human rights violation of pandemic proportions that takes place in public and private spaces. A sudden or gradual change in appearance or behaviour can be an indicator that abuse or neglect has occurred (or may still be happening).

1 in 3 women has experienced physical or sexual violence — often at the hands of their partner. Yet, it is sad to hear that 49 countries don’t have laws criminalizing domestic violence.

In Nigeria, according to Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, 2013, 39% of girls are married off before age 18 and 16% are married off before they turn 15 years old.

In Nigeria, 1–4 women or even more have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence. This number increases on a daily.

WHAT IS OUR ROLE AS MEN?

1. We need to accept and remind ourselves always that Violence against women and girls is a violation of their fundamental human right to life and dignity. This is very key, and fathers must take this as a responsibility to teach their boys values that recognise high regards for the human rights of the girl child.

2. We need to call out fellow men and speak out against Gender-Based Violence and help put a stop to all forms of violence against women and the girl child.

3. Women and girls experiencing this various forms of violence need our support now than ever. As men, we need to stop shaming this women and give more listening ears to them on this issues. Violence and harmful practices can affect women and girls at any stage of life.

4. No matter where we live, we all have stories of how violence against women has affected our lives or someone we know. As men, these women need us now more than ever to stand with them. These issues are real.

5. In conflicts, women‍ are often subjected to violence as a weapon to humiliate & oppress them. As men, we must top this practices, violence against women comes with serious mental health Consequence. Our children and society deserves better.

6. As men, we must pay more attention to sexual consent and learn to take NO for an answer. Women who suffer intimate partner and sexual violence are 2 times more likely to experience depression, 1.5 times more likely to acquire a sexually transmitted infection. This has health consequences, and socio-economic impacts on the family, communities & societies.

7. As men, don’t stay silent in the face of violence against women in any form. Call it out every time, everywhere.

Violence against women takes multiple forms, and it is important to realise that all forms of this violence plays a major role to explain how unsafe our society is for women and girls. Together, we need to create a safer society, and that happens through conversation and education.

My name is Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo, I condemn all form of Violence against women and I pledge to #OrangeTheWorld.