Ending gender-based violence still a long journey – Nkechi Ikpeazu
Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, the wife of the Governor of Abia State, has said that there is still a long way to go in order to end gender–based violence in Nigeria
In a statement released by her Chief Press Secretary, Chika Ojiegbe, in Umuahia over the weekend, Mrs Ikpeazu, who has been championing the ‘EndGBV’ movement, called for greater cohesion amongst the various institutions and individuals working in the human rights space to end gender-based violence in Nigeria.
The theme this year was ’16 Days of Activism: Unite Activism to End Violence Against Women and Girls ’, as well as the message from UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, are pointers to the fact that every person should commit to transformative actions that will end GBV.
The governor’s wife expressed her support for public campaigns and implementation of the laws to see that survivors get justice and the right to social support.
She also affirmed that there is a need to increase public funding for programmes that tackle GBV as well as to involve grassroots communities and civil society groups at every stage of decision-making.
She disclosed that the 16 days of activism in Abia State will include several radio talk shows, online engagement on Twitter, and a one-day interactive session with school-age kids about school-related gender-based violence, as well as a roadshow.
According to her, the first Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Abia under construction would be completed and commissioned during the period, while she would also host a seminar tagged “Night of Orange Colours” where stakeholders in GBV response, civil society organisations and the judicial system would converge to rededicate efforts to end GBV in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.
She also thanked the governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, for supporting several systems and institutional structures put in place to fight GBV and commended the House of Assembly for passing many laws that protect vulnerable persons.
According to her, she is hopeful that the governor will sign the Female Inheritance Law (H.A.B. 61:Abia State Female Persons Right of Inheritance of Property Law 2022) soon, as part of the high points of the 16days of Activism Against Gender–based Violence.
