The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), a prominent non-profit organisation combating gender-based violence in Nigeria, hosted its fifth annual advocacy campaign, the WARIF No Tolerance March, against gender-based violence worldwide. This is an annual campaign to commemorate the UN 16 Days of Activism.
The campaign has had a growing reach and impact across the world, and this year it was held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, in 10 cities on 3 continents: Lagos, Abuja, Abeokuta, Accra, London, Liverpool, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, and Frankfurt. Supporters and participants gathered in great numbers at various locations in these designated cities, united against gender-based violence.
In Lagos, the location of the march was the Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, and it commenced with an address from the United States chargé d’affaires, Mr. David Greene. He highlighted, “For far too long, impunity, silence, and stigma have allowed violence against women to escalate in Nigeria, as one in every four women and girls experience sexual assault before the age of 18. As we commemorate these 16 days of activism to end such abuses, we must once again remind ourselves that no woman or girl child should live in fear of violence, and every girl should grow up knowing she is safe, so that she can have the best start in life.”
The Governor of Lagos State, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, emphasised “our collective responsibility to change the statistics of rape and sexual violence into stories of resilience and change, challenge the status quo, and pave the way for a future where every girl and woman can live in a society free of rape and other forms of gender-based violence.”.
Speaking on the importance of the March, the founder of WARIF, Dr. Kemi Dasilva Ibru, said, “This year the march was held in 70 cities across 3 continents as we recognise the pervasive impact of gender-based violence globally. It is important to raise awareness not only in our various communities in silos but as one collective force across the world. This is what we are attempting to do. We look forward to including even more cities in the years to come.”
Joined by the First Lady of Ogun State, Her Excellency Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Mr. Jonny Baxter, and the United States Consul General, Mr. Will Steven, for Lagos, were over 2,000 men, women, and children taking a stance against gender-based violence in the state and beyond states and country lines.
The March received sponsorship from Access Bank, ACT Foundation, Angel Hospitality, ALARA, Cadbury, Chevron Corporation, House on the Rock, May & Baker, Marcelle Ruth Cancer Foundation, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Medplus, Nigerian Breweries, Mom & I, Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX), NNPC, Reddington Hospital, SAPETRO, Sterling Bank, and Terra Academy.
For the Arts (TAFTA), Templars Law Firm, US Consulate, United Africa Company (U.A.C.), United Nations, and Unity Hill Church. Media partners included Arise TV, Beat FM, Bellanaija, Coolfm, Global Citizen, Nigeria Info, Prime Business, Red Media, The Guardian, ThisDayStyle, and WAZOBIA.
Gender-based violence is a global human rights violation, and the “No Tolerance” March stands as a movement to denounce violence against women and girls in all communities across the world.
About WARIF
Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by Dr. Kemi DaSilva Ibru, MD, MPH, in response to the high incidence of sexual assault, rape, and human trafficking occurring amongst young girls and women across Nigeria. The Foundation was established to raise awareness and address the prevalence of this problem through the “WARIF Approach,” a unique holistic method of tackling gender-based violence through the development and implementation of a series of initiatives targeting both the intervention and treatment of these affected women as well as providing preventive measures in education and community service to reduce the high incidence.
