Gender Based Violence :Ebonyi Gov wife, South-East Traditional Rulers, CAN brainstorm, chart New Course on ending harmful practices 

 South-East Traditional Rulers Council in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday held a One-Day Summit on ending Gender Based Violence (GBV) courtesy  of the office of the wife of Ebonyi State Governor Mrs Rachel Umahi.

The summit was held under the auspices of the Pet-Project of Ebonyi First Lady named “Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation”.

Participants at the event included both  Royal Father’s and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria from the  five States of the South-East geo-political zone comprising Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia States respectively,  USAID, National Human Rights Commission, representative of UN/AU Spotlight Initiative, and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIFA).

Declaring the Summit open, the wife of Ebonyi State Governor and Founder Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation Mrs Rachel Umahi represented by her Special Assistant on Welfare Matters Mrs Patience Offer Okorie, said that the objective of the summit was to end Gender Based Violence and other harmful practices in the zone.

According to the Ebonyi State First Lady “the challenge before us is  Gender Based Violence comprising Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Rape, Early Marriages and Child Trafficking “

“This  summit was geared towards fashioning out modalities and best ways to tackle gender Based violence “

“I expect to see great reduction in the practice of gender based violence in Ebonyi State and the entire south,-east zone.

“In 2016, my office waged a campaign against Female Genital Mutilation, the practiced has reduced in the State, I championed domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAAP) aimed at fighting all kinds of Gender Based Violence and it was passed into law in 2018”

“We should resort to work together to end Gender Based Violence, I urge Traditional Rulers being closer to the people to do more”

Mrs Umahi appreciated Development Partners including the UN/EU Spotlight Initiative, UNFPA, for extending partnership to her Pet-Project “Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation .

In a speech. the Chairman of South-East Traditional Rulers Council Eze Charles Nkpuma, assured that Royal Father’s in the zone would tackle head-long the menace of Gender Based Violence.

“The inaugural meeting of South-East Traditional Rulers Council has been scheduled to hold in Ebonyi State and would focus extensively on measures to tackle the menace to its logical conclusion.

“Traditional Rulers from the south-east zone have taken the issue of gender Based Violence and harmful practices seriously, the children that suffers are our daughters”

The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria South-East zone Reverend Father Abraham Nwali represented by the Vice Chairman Reverend Dr SCAN Nwokolo, said that the Christian Body has been Partners in progress on issues relating to curbing gender Based Violence in the region.

The CAN Chairman commended the wife of Ebonyi State Governor for being at the vanguard in tackling the menace of gender Based Violence .

Goodwill messages were received from Development Partners including United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and UNFPA among others.

Earlier in a good message the Head of Country Office of UNFPA Mr Yakubu Aliyu, represented by Mr Benedict Esoh, said that gender based violence has been acknowledged as violence against women generally.

Mr Yakubu Aliyu urged Traditional Rulers from the south east zone to take drastic actions to end the menace and other harmful practices.

The summit resolved to step down plans at the State level driven by Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria in each State in addition to Town Hall meetings in each of the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State.

The summit was witnessed by the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police Aliyu Garba, Vice-Chairman of Ebonyi State Council of Traditional Rulers Eze Romanus Iyioku. members of the South-East Traditional Rulers Council, Chairmen of Christian Association of Nigeria from south-east zone, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health Dr Daniel Umezurike, that of Women Affairs  Mrs Chinwe Okah, and Chairmen of Traditional Rulers in all the 13 Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State among others.