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A non-governmental organisation, Global Initiative for the Development and Care of Women and Youths, ( GIDCOWAY) has organised a road walk as part of activities marking 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV).
The road walk themed “Together we unite! No excuse for violence” kicked off from Oakland Hotel to New Haven market.
Participants who were from different Organisations including, representatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, market leaders among others dressed in T-shirts and placards with various inscriptions.
Executive Director, GIDCOWAY, Ngozi Eboh disclosed that the road walk organised by GIDCOWAY was to sensitise the traders , market women and the general public on the importance of speaking out against Gender Based Violence.
Eboh condemned the practice by some women groups such as Umuada in perpetrating GBV on fellow women and widows through various obnoxious cultural practices.
“When a woman is agonizing over the loss of her husband, women groups such as Umuada will come to inflict more pain on her through obnoxious widowhood practices.
“They may even go to the extent of forcing her to drink the water used in bathing her late husband’s corpse, to prove that she wasn’t responsible for his death.
On her part , the Director Gender Affairs at the Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs & Social Development Mrs Esther Mbah, said Enugu State has zero tolerance for GBV and strongly supports any organization working to end the scourge in the state.
Lending their voices to the call to end violence against women and girls, Emmanuel Amaechi Nwatu, PRO, NSCDC, Enugu State Command, Maureen Atuonwu, Zonal Director, News Agency of Nigeria, as well as Hon. Ofumbo Onyebuchi, Chairman, New Haven Market Traders Association called for converted efforts in ending the scourge of gender-based violence.
The former Social Secretary, NBA Oji River and a human rights activist, Barr Angela Nchedo Adili, said , ”The road sensitization is a very good step forward for people to understand that they have protection and Government backup, irrespective of any violence they may face.
“Citizens’ protection is the Government’s priority, hence the enactment of the VAPP (Violence Against Persons Prohibition) law which is quite extensive.
“Therefore, citizens are urged to speak out to protect their lives, mental, social, psychological issues.You have a right to have 100%mental balance. It’s a very big project for our 1st lady Mbah, who takes it as her own. To ensure that Enugu State is free of Gender Based Violence”
