Nigeria Ministry of Women’s Affairs and UNFPA Launch 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls; Hey Woman series

UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Nataila Kanem's visit to Nigeria and the region coincided with the start of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. As part of activities commemorating the 16 Days Activism activities, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with UNFPA Nigeria held a premiere to launch the Hey Woman Monologues by Stephanie Linus.

The Hey Woman media campaign has 11 short videos created to reinforce the messages of an urgent need to end Gender-based Violence by deepening knowledge around sexual and reproductive health and rights. This intervention was necessary as COVID-19 led to a global increase in GBV and reports of a shadow pandemic

At the launch, UNFPA Executive Director urged families to protect women and girls from stigma by building on positive practices that ensured an end to child marriage and zero female genital mutilation. Recalling how equality underpinned all 17 of the SDGs, she expressed optimism that the powerful Hey Woman monologues would engender positive change.

November 26, 2021

16 Days of Activism: FMWA, UNFPA launch Hey Woman series by Stephanie Linus

Official launch of 16 days of activism from November 25 - December 10, 2021

As part of activities commemorating the 16 Days Activism against Gender-based Violence, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with UNFPA Nigeria held a premiere to launch the Hey Woman Monologues by Stephanie Linus.

Produced in March 2021, the 11 videos were created to reinforce the messages of an urgent need to end Gender-based Violence by deepening knowledge around sexual and reproductive health and rights. This intervention was necessary as COVID-19 led to a global increase in GBV and reports of a shadow pandemic.

For the 2021 commemoration, which marked 30 years of the global campaign, the theme was “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” The need to uphold this theme was reiterated by the UNFPA ED Natalia Kanem during her 3-day official visit to Nigeria. She urged families to protect women and girls from stigma by building on positive practices that ensured an end to child marriage and zero female genital mutilation. Recalling how Gender equality and full equality underpinned all 17 of the SDGs, she expressed optimism that the powerful Hey Woman monologue would engender positive change.

Wife of the Vice President Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo also called for expanded services to guarantee no one was left behind when accessing GBV information and services. She added that violation of rights was a big concern that would hinder development and it was time to end it.

Minister of women affairs Dame Pauline Tallen also called for men and women to lend their voices to domestication and implementation of the VAPP act at national level. According to her, reinforcing this with guarantees of justice for victims would offer greater hope.