As the world marks Human Rights Day today, December 10th, concluding the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Ashake Foundation reiterates the urgent need to safeguard the rights and dignity of underserved women and girls in Nigeria.
Gender-based violence remains one of the most persistent human rights violations in our communities, cutting across age, location, and socioeconomic status. From sexual assault and domestic abuse to child marriage, digital harassment, and exploitation, countless women and girls continue to face threats that limit their freedom, education, health, and opportunities.
The 16 Days campaign serves as a powerful reminder that advancing women’s rights requires consistent, everyday action, beyond advocacy seasons, beyond symbolic moments, and beyond global observances. While awareness efforts are important, real change demands strengthened systems, community accountability, and unwavering commitment from government institutions, families, and society at large.
“Ashake Foundation remains deeply concerned that many women and girls still experience violence in silence, with limited access to justice or protection,” the Foundation stated. “Human Rights Day should push us to reflect on the realities of women whose rights are violated daily, and inspire urgent action to ensure these violations do not continue.”
Throughout the 16 Days campaign, Ashake Foundation has continued engaging underserved communities through awareness sessions, safe spaces for adolescent girls, empowerment programs, and advocacy for legal reform. The Foundation emphasizes that while progress has been made, Nigeria must go further by:
- Strengthening enforcement of the Child Rights Act and VAPP Act
- Expanding reporting and support systems for survivors in underserved areas
- Ensuring community leaders challenge harmful norms that silence victims
- Prioritizing education and empowerment programs for girls
- Addressing emerging threats like digital violence, which disproportionately affects young women
Ashake Foundation’s work is rooted in the belief that every woman and girl deserves safety, dignity, opportunity, and justice. Protecting their rights is not optional, it is a fundamental responsibility that upholds the very spirit of Human Rights Day.
“As we close the 16 Days of Activism, we must carry this momentum into the months and years ahead,” the Foundation added. “Our vision is a Nigeria where women and girls live free from fear, free from discrimination, and free to flourish.”
The Foundation calls on policymakers, community leaders, parents, educators, and civil society groups to strengthen their commitment to women’s rights, not only today, but every day.
About Ashake Foundation
Ashake Foundation is a women-focused nonprofit committed to empowerment, dignity, and opportunity. The Foundation supports underserved women and girls through skills training, education, leadership development, menstrual hygiene access, and community-based interventions. Through programmes like Girls in Local Action (GILA), Ashake Foundation is raising a generation of confident girls who lead with courage, challenge harmful norms, and create lasting impact in their communities.
