By Mabel Adinya Ade
Adinya Arise Foundation AAF’s Brief on the 2024 Celebration of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
The 2024 commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) comes at a time when the prevalence of violence against women and girls is alarmingly high, with growing incidences of femicide, ritual killings, and systemic injustices disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups.
These acts are a direct affront to the dignity and fundamental rights of women and girls and pose a grave threat to the moral fabric of our society. It is against this backdrop that the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) is proud to partner with relevant stakeholders in an unprecedented effort to address these issues through capacity-building for lawyers in training.
The initiative will focus on equipping future legal professionals with the critical knowledge and skills to understand the complexities of gender-based violence, the intersections of social justice, and the systemic barriers that perpetuate impunity.
By doing so, we aim to bridge the gap between legal instruments and practical justice, ensuring that survivors of GBV can access timely and equitable legal redress.
Our collective resolve to challenge impunity and strengthen justice systems must begin with those who will be the custodians of the law. This training initiative represents a bold step toward reorienting the legal profession to address the realities of GBV, its devastating effects, and the broader societal implications.
Lawyers, as agents of justice, have a unique responsibility to protect the vulnerable, champion human rights, and uphold the rule of law. By providing a platform for them to explore the socio-legal context of GBV, we are not only enhancing their capacity but also laying a foundation for a more inclusive and responsive justice system.
As the 2024 theme for the 16 Days of Activism underscores the urgency of “Accountability, Advocacy, and Action,” AAF is calling on government agencies, development partners, Communities, Religious leaders, youths and civil society organizations to join this movement.
We must work collectively to ensure that the instruments of justice are not only robust but accessible, equitable, and transformative. This partnership seeks to inspire a new generation of legal professionals who are committed to championing justice, advancing gender equity, and fostering a society where women and girls can live free from violence and fear.
Together, we can create a future where the promise of justice becomes a reality for every survivor, and where every act of violence against women and girls is met with unwavering accountability. Let this year’s 16 Days of Activism mark the beginning of a transformative era in the fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Signed,
Mabel Adinya Ade
Executive Director
Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
aarisefoundation@gmail.com
November 2024
