Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, RoLAC, Programme, in collaboration with Civil Society organizations, CSOs, have held Town Hall Meetings in commemoration of 2023 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls.
The Town Hall Meetings held at Awkuzu, Nanka and Nibo communities had in attendance members of the CSOs and stakeholders from the communities visited.
The event commemorated every twenty fifth November, is ‘UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls! No Excuse!’
Global statistics reveal that an estimated seven hundred and thirty-six million women and girls experience gender-based violence at least once in their life time.
The Anambra State Coordinator of Violence Against Persons Prohibition, VAPP, law Implementation Committee, Mrs. Lovett Onyedilefu explained that the programme which is sixteen Days Activism is a campaign against different forms of gender-based violence which began on twenty fifth November being the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, will end on 10th December with several key activities lined up for the days.
A member of the CSOs, Mr. Chukwudozie Ifiorah who is a legal practitioner, spoke on the VAPP law, which he said, is the latest document for protection of victims of gender-based violence and how to deal with culprits adding that the sixteen days activism is laying emphasis on violence against women and girls and RoLAC has been supporting the CSOs in the campaign.
He explained some of the provisions of the VAPP law to the participants, and mentioned places like Ntasiobi referral centre at Enugwu-Ukwu where victims of rape can find succour.
The President -General of Awkuzu Progressive Union, Dr Ejike Oguegbu explained that the traditions and customs of Awkuzu community give women and girls the protection they need and warned that any resident or indigene of the community who is prone to violence should desist or leave the town as the community will not treat violent acts against women and girls with kid glove.
At Nanka some of the stakeholders, Comrade Chinwuba Okonkwo, Mrs. Justina God’s own, Mrs. Edith Okoye and Mrs. Amaka Umeh, mentioned some cases of gender-based violence being witnessed in the community like forceful ejection, female inheritance issues, negative widowhood practices and how they were handled but noted that top most on the list was rape.
At Nibo, some of the stakeholders, including Mrs. Rose Okoye, Mr. Afamefuna Okoye, Mr. Godwin Anaekwe, Mrs. Maryrose Maduakonam spoke passionately about several gender-based violence issues like depriving women of their inheritance because they have no boy-child for their husbands, which they said is rampant in Nibo, child marriage, child labour, and harmful widowhood practices among others.
The group later visited Ogbu police station where a case of a twelve-year-old boy battered and abused by his mother was reported.
Members of the Anambra State team include Mrs. Eucharia Anaekwe, Mrs. Ify Unachkwu, Honourable Beatrice Nwoye and Mrs. Chinyere Nwofor among others.
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