The 10th year anniversary of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women was celebrated in Nigeria with a march past led by the minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Salamatu Suleiman.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Women Affairs minister said, “It is an unaccepted reality which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Globally, it has been estimated that violence against women is a serious cause of death and incapacitation among women of reproductive age.”

According to her, a World Bank report has said that it was even a greater cause of death than traffic accidents and malaria. "Violence against women is among the most potent obstacles to the advancement of women, and is a fundamental violation of their basic human rights. Above all, it has enormous social and economic cost, and seriously jeopardises the achievement of the  millennium development goals."

On the date for the event, the minister stated that it was the UN that adopted November 25th as international day for the elimination of violence against women, and that the milestone recognition came on the heels of previous world conferences on human rights in Vienna, Austria in 1993, Cairo, Egypt in 1994 and a world conference on women in Beijing, China in 1995.

Mrs. Suleiman also said that in addition to the above mentioned world conferences on women, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in 2006, adopted a resolution on the role of the parliament in combating violence against women, and has since then launched a campaign  programme to support parliaments in their efforts and initiative in that field. Hence, this year's event was jointly organised and sponsored by the National Assembly and the Ministry of Women Affairs on the direction of the inter-parliamentary union.

She also  noted that in Nigeria, a great deal of violence against women was manifested through harmful traditional practices which include female genital mutilation, harmful delivery practices, widowhood, male preference, early marriage etc. This, she said,  discouraged necessary peace and family cohesion  central to the healthy growth and development of the family system.