First Lady, Patience Jonathan Canvasses For Stiff Penalty For Rapists

The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has canvassed for
strong punishments with legal backing to deter perpetrators
of sexual violence against women. Dame Jonathan spoke in
Paris, France at an advocacy meeting on sexual violence
against women organized by the First Lady of France, Ms.
Valerie Trierweiler, on the sideline of the Elysee Summit for
Peace and Security in Africa holding in Paris, France.

She appealed to over 50 spouses of world leaders who
attended the summit to effectively explore their positions in
mobilising support against sexual violence and other abuses
against women. She however contended that conflict
related to sexual abuse should not be regarded as
unavoidable or acceptable consequences of war because of
their devastating consequences against the dignity of
womanhood.

Further, Dame Jonathan advised leaders and policy makers
to ensure promotion of girl-child education, women
empowerment and gender equality as critical steps to stop
sexual violence against women. While calling on member
states of the United Nations, especially, African leaders, to
reassert their commitment to the effective implementation of
UN Resolutions on women, the First Lady specifically
advocated commitment to the implementation of Resolution
1325, which called for greater protection of women from
gender based violence.

She emphasized the need for strategic collaboration and the
inclusion of men in the global response to the problem of
rape saying, "behind every rape, there is a man." The high
point of the advocacy meeting on sexual violence against
women was the play of a film on sexual violence in the
Democratic Republic of Congo for the participants who also
listened to eye witness accounts of the situation in Libya and
the Central African Republic.

The special Representative of UN Secretary General on
Sexual Violence and Conflict, Ms. Zainab Bangura, and
some of the First Ladies in attendance took, turn to speak at
the meeting in support of the global call to end sexual
violence against women.