Ebonyi state government, Women’s Aid Collective(WACOl) and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists(NAWOJ) among other coalitions, sensitised the state on the need to unite to achieve women’s and girls’ rights in the society.
The sensitisation programme which included road work, visit to traditional rulers, stakeholders and others were part of activities making the 16 days of activism on eradication of Gender-Based Violence.
It is an international programme designed by UN Women.
At the commencement of the roadwork Saturday, wife of Ebonyi state governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi, unveiled the amended VAP Law, a tool for fighting GBV in the state.
Representing the governor’s wife, Mrs. Patience Ofor Okorie called for unity among the people to ensure the amended law was effective.
She said: “The theme of this year’s program unites, when women unite many things will happen when people unite we move the society forward. Her excellency is urging us to come together and ensure that the amended VAP law is made effective.
“The amended VAP law is for all of us which is why she took it upon herself to ensure that the little things that were lacking in the former one were captured in the amended one.
“The amendment is to ensure sustainability, it also shows that all of us come together for our common bond which is a passion that even when we are not around our children will not be violated. That all forms of violence against persona will be put to an end.”
On her part, the Zonal Coordinator for Ebonyi state 50,50 women under Women Aid Collective (WACOL) programme, Lauret Ngozi Nwafor, noted that the organisation had engaged in a lot of advocacy to see to the end of GBV.
“We have three zones, Ebonyi South, North, and Central that are participating in this program. Like the name is, we intend to see that every form of violence against women and girls is eradicated, we are sensitizing people by telling them that marginalization of the girl’s child, and women is against the law, it is against human rights.
“A woman has the right to speak and associate. They stand to ensure that justice is given to anybody that is served with injustice.
“We have engaged in advocacy visits to traditional rulers, stakeholders, to Parliamentarians telling them that some sections in this law need to be removed especially the ones affecting women. WACOL has been engaging through dialogue and sensitizing to ensure that things are done right. To see that Women are given their rights and privileges and a lot of achievements have been recorded,” she said.
Representing the state Chairperson of NAWOJ, Nkechichinyere Oginyi, the Vice Chairperson Nnenna Bennett appreciated the governor’s wife for the amendment of VAP law.
