The Chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Mr Nasir Kwarra, says considerable progress has been achieved in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
Kwarra said this while speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the fifth anniversary of the Nairobi Summit on International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
The 2024 commemoration of the summit has “The March Continues: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All,” as theme.
Kwarra said that GBV was a global issue that remained a priority and that the Federal Government had made significant strides in aligning national policies with the goals of the ICPD and the commitments renewed in Nairobi.
According to him, strategic investments have been made to expand access to high-quality maternal and child health services, grounded in the belief that women’s health is critical to national prosperity.
“This ensures that women can make informed choices about their reproductive health, free from coercion or discrimination, thereby upholding their rights.
“Comprehensive national policies and stronger legislation have been implemented to prevent GBV, providing support and justice to survivors.
“The establishment of safe spaces, community outreach programmes, and support services, developed in collaboration with civil society organisations foster a safer and more inclusive environment for women and girls.”
However, Kwarra noted that in spite of the progress, much work remained to be done.
According to him, a major setback is the delay in conducting a population and housing census, which has hindered efforts to assess population needs and allocate resources effectively.
Mr Koessan Kuawu, Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), commended Nigeria’s achievements but emphasised that significant challenges persist.
He stressed the need for renewed commitment to action, sustained investments in health systems, and robust policy implementation to address root causes of inequality.
To achieve universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), Kuawu advocated for meaningful engagement of youth, strengthening partnerships across sectors, and addressing harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.(NAN).
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