Stakeholders Kick Off 16-Day Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Cross River
By Missang AKPET
THE Cross River state ministry of women affairs in conjunction with Excellence Community Educational Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) have kickstarted a 16 days activism to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
The 2 week long activity which will run from November 25 to December is an opportunity for government at various levels, NGOs and other stakeholders to recommit to action in the fight for gender equality as well as the rights of girls and women.
Speaking at the media parley to kickstart the event, the wife of the state Governor Rev. Mrs Eyoawan Otu said the issue of Gender based violence cannot be overemphasized as it continues to stand as a trend in our society.
Emphasizing on the theme “Unite, invest to end violence against women and girls” the wife of the state Governor who was represented by her special assistant on NGOs Mr. Jeffery Adamade urged all stakeholders to focus on stamping out GBV from the state using the 16 days of activism as a veritable platform.
State commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs. Edema Irom and SA NGOs to the wife of the Governor Mr. Jeffery Adelaide
The state commissioner for women affairs Mrs. Edema Irom while addressing participants maintained that the theme for the year ‘Unite, invest to end violence against women and girls’ is apt considering the alarming rate of Gender bias and gender based violence worldwide which include physical violence, emotional violence, economic violence and political violence.
According to her; “Gender violence has continued to increase in an alarming rate 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 1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 4 adolescent girls experience 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.
The state director of (ECEWS) Dr. Ekpenyong Ambo in his goodwill message hinted that gender violence has different facets even though physical violence remains more popular.
He opined that sexual violence is more perversive and prevalence this days, adding that the 16 days of activism is not enough to send the message against GBV while urging stakeholders to carry on the message and campaign even beyond December 10.
