By Prisca Nguzo
Imo State Committe on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, ISCEVAWG has expressed concern over the prevalent cases of human rights violation and sexual harassment such as rape, child abuse, wife bartering, among other forms of gender-based violence in the state.
The Committe urged Governor Hope Uzodimma to interven over what it described as "an ugly trend in the state" by urgently establishing a regulatory agency in the state to help curb the menace.
The Committee which made the call at its one-day check-in meeting held in Owerri, yesterday disclosed that its objectives among others was to strengthen existing relationships, partnerships and collaborations among key stakeholders, state and non-state actors towards addressing all forms of violence against women and girls in the state.
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The committee insisted that the Agency when established would help provide protection for vulnerable people including women and girls as well as gain justice for victims/survivors of all forms of gender-based violence, GBV in the state.
They affirmed that the prevalent cases of gender-based violence in the state was majorly as a result of the delay in establishing the regulatory agency, adding that the Agency would also help in the enforcement and implementation Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, VAPP provision.
Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Blessing Duru, Programme Director of Alliances for Africa, AfA said, "until the government steps in urgently by establishing this Agency, effects of gender-based violence would continue to wreck havoc on the emotional, psychological, social and physical life of Imo people."
Duru also stressed on the need for a coordinated approach among the service providers in the state to enable the achievement of effective results towards ending VAWG and other related issues in state.
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Also, Mr. Ernest Ogbu, Imo State Commander, Nigeria, National Agency For The Prohibition Of Trafficking In Persons, NAPTIP, appealed for a sustained partnership and support especially from the state government.
Ogbu and other committee members during delibarations identified lack of adequate funding, legal process delay in court, frustration from the police, non-availability of data, wrongful charging of cases, inappropriate filling of matters in court and security challenges as factors hampering fight against GBVs in the state.
The committee, funded by AfA comprised heads of Civil Society Organizations, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, International Federation of Women Lawyers Association, FIDA, National Orientation Agency, NOA, National Council of Women Society, NCWS and media practitioners.
Members of the committee also included Traditional ruler, representatives from the police, PWDs community, the Imo State Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Health, among other key state actors.
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