In response to the growing cases of gender-based violence, especially against women and girls in Nigeria, women have been urged to show stronger concern by speaking out and supporting one another.
That was the central message from speakers at a one-day workshop in Awka, themed; “Eliminating Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls”.
Correspondent Blessing Uchendu reports that the workshop, which attracted journalists in Anambra State, as well as communication students, was organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council, in collaboration with Women Aid Collective, WACOL, and the state ministry of Women and Social Welfare.
Recent statistics showed that one in every three women around the world has experienced either physical or sexual violence in her life.
Speaking at the event, a former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Anambra State, Chief Tony Onyima, who discussed the topic “Eradicating Violence Against Women: The Role of Journalists,” said that the media has a great opportunity to promote the advocacy towards ending violence against women, and called on journalists to report accurately as it concerns the menace.
Chief Onyima also listed ways the media can help eliminate violence against women to include treating gender-based violence as a human rights violation, always explaining the context, reporting from the point of the victim rather than the point of the aggressor and balancing of their reports, among others.
Another resource person and Dean, Faculty of Law, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Ogugua Ikpeze, represented by Dr Helena Obi, while lamenting the rising number of casualties from abusive relationships, stated that advocacy moves might not have stronger effects if victims continue to play endurance and hide games.
Professor Ikpeze believed that women empowerment, equal opportunities and social re-orientation could help immensely in checkmating violence against women, even as she commended the efforts of Anambra State Government in tackling cases of domestic violence and abuses.
On her part, the Area Manager and Deputy Director, Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Mrs. Nancy Ekong, listed domestic and sexually related violence, female genital mutilation, girl child marriage, obnoxious cultural practices and harmful rituals among others, as gender-based issues that must be addressed urgently.
The President General, Enugwu Agidi Town Union, Pharmacist Victor Okeke, emphasized that violence against women is not limited to Africa or Nigeria alone but a global issue and attributed it to indiscipline and intolerance between men and women.
The NUJ Chairman, Anambra State Council, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu and the chairman, International Training and Human Development Committee, Mrs. Uche Kalu, in their separate remarks, noted that the event was designed to expose journalists to the professional demsnds of tackling violence against women and effective reportage of the menace.
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