Pecohub The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has urged religious leaders nationwide to end the misuse of religion to justify Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
It said that distorted interpretations of sacred texts often fuelled women’s subordination and abuse. FIDA’s Country Vice President, Eliana Martins, made the appeal yesterday in Lagos, during the second yearly dialogue for religious leaders on GBV prevention, themed: “Strengthening Religious Institutions in Preventing GBV.”
Martins said the dialogue, supported by the Ford Foundation, formed part of the project titled: ‘Engagement, Coordination and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government Leaders in Nigeria.’
She noted that religion, when wrongly interpreted, had often been used as a tool for oppression, reinforcing patriarchal dominance and normalising violence in many homes. According to her, certain religious texts that emphasise men’s “headship” are frequently used to justify violence against women.
“Some men abuse religious doctrines to rationalise control and aggression in intimate relationships. The insistence on women’s subordination on the basis of religious ideology fuels violence and sustains patriarchal control over women and girls.
