FIDA seeks efforts to end cruelty to women, children

The President, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Eliana Martins, on Tuesday called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders, to end every form of violence against women and children.

Martins made the call in a welcome address, at the 2024 Joint Law Week of FIDA Nigeria, featuring its four Lagos branches, Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Law Week holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, is tagged: “Analysing the Challenges Facing Women and Children in Nigeria; The Way Forward-Galvanising Voices”.

She noted that the law week was an age-long tradition, which brought stakeholders together, to brainstorm on critical issues and gain realisation of the mandate of FIDA, with specific interest in the rights of indigent women and children.

She said the chosen theme for the week was apt, adding that “Undoubtedly, this theme resonates with, and reinforces our commitment towards women and children”.

She explained that the theme would also serve as catalyst for the organisation’s role as a voice for the voiceless women and children in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian woman and child are faced daily with several challenges ranging from oppression, neglect, abuse, hunger and in some other cases, rape, victimisation, disinheritance, abject poverty, and many more.

“A lot of times these challenges are wide, diverse, and overwhelming, and at such times, they need voices to speak up for them,” she said.

According to her, there can be no better time to bring together voices that can help speak up for the Nigerian women and children, than now.

She noted that this would require collaborative efforts from major stakeholders in Nigeria, adding that hopefully, the 2024 FIDA Joint Week will espouse the necessity for Nigerians to lend a voice towards overcoming these challenges.

NAN reports that the event had in attendance, some past and present leaders of the bar, female lawyers across different NBA branches in Lagos, gender advocates, among others.