By Abasi Ita,Calabar
The wife of Cross River governor,Rev. Eyoawan Otu has sued for robust teamwork in battling the rising challenge of Gender Based Violence across the state to ensure optimum impact.
The first lady, who spoke at a media briefing to kickstart the annual 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence celebrated globally in Calabar, opined that; “Such robust synergy has become imperative to guarantee attainment of set goals in curtailing incidences of GBV revaging the state”.
Represented by her special assistant on NGOs, Jeffrey Adamade,the first lady opined that;” The 2024 theme; Unite,Invest To End Violence Against Women and Girls demands collective action from all fronts to checmate the inhuman treatment, sexual harrassments, exploitations and molestations targeted against the vulnerables in the society by a privileged few”.
In her address, the state commissioner for women affairs,. Edema Irom expressed dismay over growing incidents of sexual exploitations and varying degrees of violence targeted against women and children especially the girl child.
She described the global theme as apt, given the alarming rate of gender bias and gender based violence worldwide including physical, emotional, economic and political violence.
According to her; “Gender Based Violence has continued to increase at an alarming proportion with Cross River state not left out.
“Recent statistics show that political violence has remained an issue of serious concern, political violence in the sense that women are not given equal ground to win elections and appointments are not given equally.
“Nearly one in every three women and one in every four adolescent girls experienced violence in their lifetime. As a ministry whose mandate is about the well-being of women and children, we are aware of the importance of community based interventions aimed at promoting gender equality hence the need to actively participate in the ‘16 days of activism’ which is aimed at spotlighting issues of women and girls” the commissioner said.
In a goodwill message,the state director of Excellent Community Education Welfare Scheme,(ECEWS) Dr. Ekpenyong Ambo stated that gender violence has different facets even though physical violence remains the most rampant..
In his words:”Sexual violence is more perversive and prevalence these days, therefore the 16 days of activism is not enough to send the message against GBV.
“I want to appeal to stakeholders to keep propagating the message and step up campaign even beyond December 10”
Also speaking, the state team leader, Heartland Alliance,Dr Igiriga Ajah urged partners in the sector to devised aggressive sensitization campaigns to combat the manance currently assuming alarming statistics across the country.
The event was attended by women groups including wives of police and military personnel.