‘Why we fight against women abuse’
By CHRISTINE ONWUACHUMBA
Project Alert on Violence against Women, a Lagos-based non-governmental organization (NGO) recently hosted other civil organisations and the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to mark this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The event was also in commemoration of the United Nations’ 16 days of activism against gender-based violence It took place between November 25 and December 10 this year.
Josephine Effiah-Chukwuma said that the 16-day activism is an annual international event which started over two decades ago. During this period, individuals, civil society groups, the media and other institutions all over the world are expected to organize events that would further raise awareness on the nature, forms, prevalence and consequences of gender-based violence (GBV), she said. Good practices aimed at responding to and eliminating GBV should also be showcased, she stated.
She called on all Nigerians, in spite of religious or social status, to join in “fighting the social ill and threat that might ruin our future.”
“We started this year with child abuse. Unfortunately, it is ending with child abuse. It is saddening to note that for us at Project Alert this year, 75 per cent of the cases received in our office, has been that of rape, incest and defilement of young girls between ages of three and 16 years. Our partner, the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and other NGOs such as MEDIACON, Alliances for Africa and KIND also share the same experiences,” Mrs. Effiah-Chukwuma revealed.
Mrs. Ronke Ajayi-Ladapo, an assistant director at the Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs, thanked Mrs. Effiah-Chukwuma and her organization, assuring that the state government will always support the fight against violence of women and children. Her words: “The government is fully committed to the fight against gender-based violence. This has been demonstrated by the Child Rights Law, which has been passed, and also by establishing the first government-owned shelter for abused women and young girls in August this year. And we are still going to do more.”
Mrs Effiah-Chukwuma commended the giant strides taken by the state government and Ministry of Women Affairs, especially the construction of the Shelter for Abused Women and Young Girls, saying it was an indication that the government responds to the needs of its people.
She noted that with enabling laws, political will and the right atmosphere, violence against women and young girls would be greatly reduced and ultimately, stamped out. At the event, three publications by Project Alert were launched. They included: No Safe Haven: Annual Reports of Attacks on Women in Nigeria, November 2005 – December 2007; Marriage Counseling Guide for Churches and Mosques; and Male Involvement Project: Report of Consultativæto the media for being very supportive.
A candlelight march was held on December 4, 2009 from Agidingbi to Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja to draw support against the murder of Grace Ushang, the youth corps member killed in September this year while on national service in Borno State.
