UN Women and Brazilian Embassy Plot to End Gender-Based Violence
By Moses A. UYANG
In the spirit of the 16 Days of Activism, UN Women and the Brazilian Embassy in Abuja organized a two-day Orange The World Film Screening.
This event which was held between 2nd and 3rd December 2021, brought together many movie lovers, activists, diplomats, the media, NGOs and representatives from the Federal Government of Nigeria. The beautiful space provided by the Brazilian Embassy was able to accommodate all these spectators.
Read Also: UN Chief Urges Authorities In Sudan To Respect Press Freedom
The ambassador of Brazil to Nigeria Ambassador Ricardo Guerra Araújo welcomed all warmly to the film screening on the both days as he called on everyone to become proactive as the world continues to work on ending gender-based violence.
Prominent among the films were Jaha’s Promise and Silêncio Das Inocentes (Silence of the Innocents).
Jaha’s Promise tells the story of a
Gambian Anti-Female Genital Mutilation Campaigner, Jaha Dukureh who returns from the US to her native Gambia to vehemently campaign against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation that she and over 200 million women and girls have sadly undergone globally. This of course eventually led to the banning of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation in The Gambia.
On the other hand, Silêncio Das Inocentes, a Brazilian film documentary that tells of the story of Maria Da Penha. It recounts her survival of two attempts of murder by her husband. Her dogged campaign against domestic violence in Brazil eventually led to what is today known as Maria da Penha Law in Brazil.
The Maria da Penha law aims to reduce domestic violence mainly by increasing punishment for domestic abuse offenders, increasing the maximum detention time from one to three years, establishing domestic violence courts and requiring Brazilian authorities to institute 24 hour shelters for victims of household domestic abuse.
With all participants at this event greatly appreciated, prominent among them were:
Her Excellency, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, OFR, KSG, Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, First Lady of Ekiti State, Madam Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Ambassador Lenna Pylvänäinen, First Lady Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello, Kwara State First Lady, Amb. Dr. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, EU Representative, Mrs. Sindy Simon, the UN Volunteer Country Representative, Madam Veronica Obiuwevbi, and Care International Country Director, Hussaini Abdu, PhD.
Speaking after the film show,
Dame Pauline K. Tallen, noted that
“We need champions to speak up for others in crises.” And that “The culture of silence has to be broken”
She further stressed the President Muhammadu Buhari’s open support against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the First Lady of Niger State, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello observed that ” The film we just watched shows the pain you see in almost every woman’s story.”
Read Also: ONA 2021: King Tsaro-Igbara to receive Nelson Mandela Excellence Award in Leadership
Furthermore, Dr. Hussaini Abdu suggested a curriculum be designed to help educate young pupils on the need to learn and imbibe the culture of non-violence and respect for women and girls.
Finally, the UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, congratulated the team from the UN Women for planning a successful film screening as she rendered her heartfelt thanks to the Brazilian Embassy and all present at the event.
