On November 25, 2021, the AUN Community marked a series of events to kick start its involvement in 16-days of Activism Against gender-based Violence against Women and Girls. Tagged "Orange the World: End Violence Against Women Now!", the 16-days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence against Women and Girls is an international campaign that creates awareness about violence against women.
The AUN-Atiku Institute (AUN-AI) is coordinating the University Community's participation, in collaboration with the British Council.
President Margee Ensign cut the ribbon to declare the event open in front of the Robert Pastor e-library building. The President was joined by senior management, SoL Professors Erebi Ndoni, Jennifer Heaven Mike, and the leadership of the AUN-Atiku Institute, led by its director, Dr. Audu Liman. The President of AUN’s Women Leadership Council, Ms. Ifunanya Anyene, also delivered a keynote speech.
President Ensign highlighted the deeply troubling statistics behind violence against women in Nigeria, and AUN's role in gender equality and education. In commenting on the work being done at AUN, led in great part by law school faculty, the president said: "There is a common denominator here about working against gender based violence and gender equality," the President said.
"When we started thinking about our school of law, the Founder, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, gave us very specific directions. He said it has to be different: it must focus on gender equity. Today when we talk about these very important and difficult issues, we should honor him too.”
The President noted the role AUN has played in gender equity and promoting awareness on violence against women and girls.
"The AUN School of Law is the first to focus on gender equity, and working on these issues is critically important for the country's future. The most common forms of gender-based violence in Nigeria include sexual harassment, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and physiological violence, and violence against noncombatant women in security situations.
"AUN as Africa's first Development University has been at the forefront of these issues for a long time. With our focus on safeguarding against sexual harassment, as you learned last week, we are the first in the country to establish this anonymous whistle blowing platform. We will continue to focus on these issues with education, advocacy, and most importantly with solutions to end violence against women and girls-- particularly with our development project in the state and the country".
Please use this link to read President Ensign’s full speech at the occasion Office of the President - American University of Nigeria (aun.edu.ng).
Reported by Rebecca Ikponwonba