Enugu State Government and a group of Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, have again committed to ending all forms of Gender Based Violence in the State.
The CSOs, African Law Foundation, AFRILAW and the New-Life Community Care Initiative, NELCCI, made the declaration when they paid an advocacy visit to the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ngozi Enih over the weekend.
The group, representing over twenty CSOs in Enugu, paid the visit as part of their activities for the 16 days activism to eliminate Gender Based Violence.
The Executive Director AFRILAW, Chinwuike Okereke in his address emphasised that 16 days activism is a United Nations’ annual global event that starts from 25th of November and ends on 10th of December.
According to him, “This is actually the first time the event is happening in Enugu State and we thought it good to partner with the ministry to make it happen.
“We mapped out the advocacy visit to acquaint you with the 16 days of activism.
“We have many activities. We have what we call acting meetings, where we tweet, gazette messages on social media, on why we should end violence against women and girls, looking at the theme of the year which is ‘Unite, invest to prevent violence against women and girls’.
“We want to partner with the Enugu State Government with a theme ‘State Finance on Gender Based Violence’. We want to discuss the need for government support on budget issues, programs and projects that advance the course of GBV.
“We want to let you know why Local government Chairmen should make it a priority to put in some effort, funds and investments towards preventing GBV within their local government areas.
“We want to organise a men’s conference, engaging men and boys across the strata of the State, sensitising, discussing with them on the need to end GBV.”
The State Focal Person, Agents for Citizens Driven Transformation (ACT) Kobi Ikpo earlier in her speech noted that evidence had shown that men were the highest Gender Based Violence perpetrators and that was the reason behind the men conference.
“We will interrogate their roles and discuss issues of toxic masculinity and how we can promote healthy masculinity,” she said.
Responding, the Commissioner, Mrs Enih appreciated the advocacy visit, describing it as timely and it line with her mandate and Governor Peter Mbah’s priorities to have peace and harmony in every home in Enugu State
She expressed delight on the issue of men conference, stressing that “talking to the young boys will make them withdraw and feel sober because most of them grew up in abusive homes and it has become a norm to them.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of NELCCI, Florence Ifeanyi Aneke expressed joy on the outcome of the partnership visit.
She urged the members of the public to collaborate with the CSOs and the Enugu State government to eliminate Gender Based Violence against women and girls in the State.
