Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Ebonyi State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA), on Friday sought to reduce Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other harmful practices against women and girls in the state.
The State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in collaboration with UNFPA, is commemorating 2024 edition of “16 Days Activism” with the theme: “Unite, invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
Mrs Felicia Nwankpuma, the State Commissioner in the ministry, said that continuous sensitisation against human violation and comprehensive implementation of actions would address the trend.
Nwankpuma, represented by Mrs Felicia Anusi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, called for the elimination of GBV in the society.
The UNFPA -Youth Participatory Platform representative, Pearl Acho-osueke, said its goal is to end physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic abuse, as well as harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
“UNFPA wants GBV to be a thing of the past in Ebonyi and globally. Also, its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted.”
In her remarks, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, the State Coordinator, GBV Taskforce, said the sensitisation of partners and stakeholders in the fight against the practice is an opportunity to reflect on progress made so far.
Nwanchor, also Head of Department, Sexual Assault GBV Response in the ministry of Justice, acknowledged that the enlightenment would help identify challenges and strategies to ensure a holistic eradication of the trend in the society.
She added that it also presented sustainability plan for priority activities support.
She said, “full implementation of violence against persons prohibition law, support for response team, budgetary allocation and collaboration with international agencies will bring the ultimate goal of ending violence against women and girls.
The event featured stakeholders like NAPTIP, National human rights commission, Ebonyi GBV taskforce, ministry of justice among other civil society organisations.
