As the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence is winding down, The Anambra State Chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) ably led by the Chairperson, Comrade Tochukwu Ifejika has called for the sustenance of intervention measures targeted at ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
The Chapter made a call to the CP, during an awareness/campaign walk which kicked off from the State Police Command HQs Awka, the state capital as part of the activities lined up to mark the 16 days activism which is commemorated every year from the 25th of November to the 10th of December.
While speaking, the Chairperson made a strong plea for the sustenance of preventive, intervention and support measures geared towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
“We as a group is calling for greater awareness in the fight against the menace, and asking that cases of identified violence against the girl child at every level should be taken up.
“We are also sensitizing the people on the need not to indulge in violence against women and girls. To let them know the need to always dialogue instead of violence against their wives, sisters, daughter and the female gender as a whole
“And we also seek for a support system to help reach out and rehabilitate any victim of such violence. Support system is needed where such victims would run to and find succour before a redress,” she enjoins.
During the campaign, placards with different inscriptions were displayed by the association; “No Excuse for Abuse, UNiTE for Change, End Violence against Women Now, No to Domestic Violence, Yes to Peaceful and Safe Homes, GBV Affects Us All, Let’s Stand Together for Safety, UNiTE to End Violence, Empower Women, Empower Humanity, United Against GBV, United for Equality, Safety and Justice, Stand with Survivors, Stand against Abuse, Equality Now, Violence Never, Safety Always, Believe Survivors, Support Survivors, Together We Can End Violence against Women, Violence Is Not Love! Stop Abuse, Start Support, UNiTE for a World Free from Violence against Women”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam on his part, noted that the campaign aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to end all forms of violence against women and girls and that the Nigeria Police force have a longstanding commitment to combating Gender-Based Violence, sexual violence, harassment, and other associated crimes.
“This commitment is reflected in the formation of specialized units within the Force, including the Juvenile, Women & Child (JWC) unit, the Anti-Human Trafficking unit, and the Anti-Child Labour unit, among others, which are dedicated to addressing these sensitive issues.”
Also as part of the awareness campaign, the chapter called on the MD Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr. Charles Molokwu for a collaboration on the sensitization to end violence against women and girls.
While speaking Molokwu noted the need for a collaboration of the station in the activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) to amplify the awareness through media.
“NAWOJ as a media body which is primarily saddled with the responsibilities of informing and educating the masses has the mandate to engage in this kind of awareness/campaign programme to speak out and inform the masses on the ills and dangers of Gender Based Violence,” he stated.
In the same vein, the chapter paid a visit to the Anambra State Commissioner of Women’s affairs and child development ministry, Ify Obinabo.
While addressing the group, Obinabo noted that the awareness of the 2024 16 days activism against gender based violence was far reaching than that of last year’s.
“As we can all notice, Anambra State was not left out in activism this year. The awareness/ campaign is a vigorous one and it will be sustained to the very last day to make sure that the message gets to a greater number of persons
” Mind you, ignorance of the law is not an excuse, anybody caught in the act of violence against women and girls will go to jail. Soludo led administration is poised to end any form of violence in Anambra State,” the Commissioner stated.
Anambra state NAWOJ ended the walk at the NUJ state secretariat where three speakers; Bar. Helen Obi(Senior Lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University), Comrade Ify Unachukwu (Broadcast Journalist and Gender Rights Activist), and Comrade Kasie Abone (Journalist/Media Consultant)respectively spoke on issues bothering on gender based violence.
In her vote of thanks, Prof. Stella Okunna, the first female professor of mass communication in West Africa, applauded the giant strides of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists(NAWOJ) Anambra state chapter in cueing into important programmes to place the association on the right pedestal.
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