UN Women, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other civil society organisations have thrown their weight behind Olubunmi Uluba’s 220-hour Guinness World Record attempt for the longest marathon reading aloud, describing it as an innovative campaign to raise awareness about laws protecting women and girls from gender-based violence.
Speaking at the flag-off of the marathon in Abuja on Monday, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong, said the initiative went beyond the pursuit of a world record, as it sought to bridge the gap between existing legal protections and public awareness.
Eyong observed that discussions on ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) often focused on statistics, policies and legislative reforms, while overlooking the human experiences behind the figures.
“Behind every statistic is a human story — a survivor seeking justice, a young girl dreaming of safety, and a community striving for dignity,” she said.
She identified limited public knowledge of existing laws and support systems as one of the major obstacles to tackling SGBV in Nigeria, Africa and beyond, noting that many women and girls remained unaware of their rights and where to seek assistance.
According to her, Uluba’s 220-hour reading marathon will feature legal frameworks, human rights instruments and survivor-protection laws from 15 African countries, translating complex legal provisions into accessible public information.
She said the exercise would help people understand their rights, recognise different forms of violence, appreciate the importance of consent and identify channels through which survivors could obtain assistance.
“Knowledge is an essential tool for prevention, protection and access to justice,” Eyong said.
The UN Women representative added that the initiative aligned with the organisation’s mandate and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on Gender Equality, Goal 4 on Quality Education and Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
She called on governments, traditional and religious leaders, civil society groups, the media, families, men and boys to work together in challenging harmful practices and ensuring that violence against women and girls was neither tolerated nor normalised.
Eyong commended Uluba’s courage, endurance and creative approach to advocacy, stressing that the true measure of success would extend beyond the Guinness World Records.
“Our ultimate achievement must go beyond breaking a world record. It must be about breaking the silence, changing attitudes and ensuring that every woman and girl can live with dignity, safety and freedom from violence,” she said.
Similarly, FIDA Abuja Branch expressed solidarity with Uluba, describing the marathon as an important platform for drawing public attention to SGBV laws in Nigeria and 14 other African countries.
The organisation’s Publicity Secretary, Barrister Chimdindu Onyedim-Etuwewe, said FIDA was particularly pleased that the campaign placed legal protections for women and children at the centre of its advocacy, given that they constitute the predominant victims of SGBV.
She said the exercise would introduce existing legal protections to people unfamiliar with them while deepening public understanding of the laws.
Onyedim-Etuwewe added that presenting the laws on a global platform would also create an opportunity to examine their adequacy and relevance.
Reaffirming FIDA’s commitment to legal advocacy and justice for survivors, she applauded Uluba for undertaking the challenge, noting that its significance went beyond an individual achievement.
Also speaking, the Head of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Yewande Abota-Aupetu, said the initiative would strengthen legal literacy and promote better institutional responses to cases of gender-based violence.
She said efforts to improve access to justice for survivors must focus on removing structural barriers, strengthening institutional responses, improving coordination among stakeholders and developing effective policies.
Abota-Aupetu described the marathon as a valuable platform for legal education and cross-country learning on approaches to tackling SGBV.
She commended Uluba for deploying her professional platform and personal development towards public service, while wishing her strength and resilience to complete the 220-hour challenge.
