Wife of the governor of Anambra State, Nonye Soludo, has stressed the need for increased awareness and better education in the fight against every form of gender-based violence.

 

The governor’s wife stated this in Awka in a statement to mark the 2022 International Day for Eliminating Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls.

According her, creating awareness on the need for those who are passing through any form of abuse to speak out, without any shame and fear of being stigmatized, is an essential aspect of checkmating the social scourge.

 

She said that with many cases of violence against women and girls dying unreported, it becomes difficult to track the case or even apprehend culprits, who are most likely to continue with their evil trade.

The governor’s wife, who stated that there is no justification for physical, sexual and psychological abuse of women, children and girls, stressed that the society must do more to help to stop gender-based violence, through advocacy, beginning from the home, where most of these cases are dominant.

 

Mrs. Soludo listed rape, battery, femicide, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, female genital mutilation, child marriage and other gender-based problems as ones that must be urgently dealt with to tackle the issue at hand.

She also called for an immediate end to all abnormal religious and socio-cultural practices that limit the chances of women, children and girls in governance, education and labour market, emphasizing that if violence against women is left to thrive, the Sustainable Development Goals’ promise of “leaving no one behind” cannot materialize.

 

While calling for a reassessment of family values of discipline, self-control, moral repute, love, protection of the female gender among others, Mrs. Soludo, who is a front-line advocate for women and child protection, said that her husband’s administration shows serious concern for issues that affect the vulnerable segment of the society, and pledged to continue to lend her support.

 

The International Day for Eliminating Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Children, is commemorated globally on November twenty-five every year.