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The Rule of Law and Anti-corruption, RoLAC Programme has decried the soaring incidents of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Anambra State, restating commitment towards elimination.
RoLAC Project Coordinator in the state, Josephine Onah stated this during a press conference organized to mark the 2024 International Human Rights Day.
She explained that having realized the link between GBV and human rights, the organization in collaboration with National Human Rights Commission, Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and other NGOs has intensified campaign since the 25th of November, marking the beginning of 16 days of activism against GBV.
“Gender-based violence is a human rights issue. Last week, we had a statewide conference, with traditional rulers, state and non-state actors all agreeing that we have to unite against GBV.
Stakeholders stressed the urgent need for the establishment of a Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law Implementation Commission in Anambra. Lagos State is already doing exploits with the commission and that is what we envision for Anambra State.
“We need policy interventions and legislation. But we are more bothered about implementation of those laws and policies.
“I want to stress the power imbalance which is all about human rights and culture. It affects women and other vulnerable persons. We want our voices to be loud against power imbalance. That’s all about the theme for this year. “Reducing inequality and promoting human rights, enhancing human rights,” Onah said.
For his part, the Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC) Obinna Maduforo, described the day as significant because it commemorates the fight against human rights violations.
“Our core mandate is to promote, protect and enforce human rights and recently particularly in Anambra state, especially in the face of an upsurge in sexual gender-based violence.
“I’m handling a case of a 10-year-old girl who lost her mom. She’s 10 years old this year and her father started abusing her sexually since she was four years old. Time will fail me to start reeling out such horrendous, horrific things that are happening in Anambra State.
“A lot of people do not know that they can even cry out for help. We are saying speak out. The commission is here. We are online, call us. We thank God we are being powered and driven by RoLAC.
“We are sounding out a note of warning to perpetrators, those who go about defiling little children, beating up their wives, inflicting crazy injuries on them. If your name comes to us, you are going to face the music, you are going to be prosecuted, and you are going to be jailed as the law prescribed.
The Coordinator, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law VAPP Implementation Committee, remarked, “Today is very important to us because we want our voices to be loud enough for people to understand the need for the VAPP Implementation Agency. Without it, we cannot begin to harness the gains that of the VAPP law.
After the press conference, all the organizations hit the road for a rally to targeted at creating awareness about GBV and the significance of International Human Rights Day.
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