By: Ruth Oginyi
United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), National orientation agency, NOA, Ebonyi State with support from EU-UN spotlight initiative Tuesday organize community dialogue with traditional, Religious leaders and other community stakeholders to end violence against women, girls, and children in the nine communities that made up Ohaozara local government area, Ebonyi state.
The event also featured the establishment of a surveillance team to eliminate violence against women, girls, and children in the area.
Addressing the stakeholders, Victor Atuchukwu United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Child Specialist Enugu field office implored Ebonyi
women to adopt child birth registration which is the only means of identifying minors.
Mr. Atuchukwu pointed out the agency had an understanding with the state Ministry of health in ensuring that every child is registered once given birth.
He said, “There was a time we came with the National Population Commission to beg the commissioner for health and the Executive Director family health care development center that we want his support anytime that a woman has birthed in your facility they should not go home until the child gets his/her birth certificate from National Population Commission.
“I don’t know if that is still happening. If it is still happening please let’s keep it up if it is not happening please let’s start it again. All of us seated here at least have voters Card or driving licenses or international passports, we have a lot of things to identify ourselves but the birth certificate is the only means of identification that a child has till he or she gets to the stage of getting one.
“On spotlight initiative, the fund for this activity that we are doing across the state came from the European Union in collaboration with United Nations. In Nigeria, we are having this implementation of the spotlight, our activities are aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls in communities, and in Nigeria, we are working in only six states where this money is being used and this engagement is held with the stakeholders”.
The state Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Desmond Onwo noted that ensuring the protection of women and girls’ child means ensuring a better society.
And further said that the world frowns at gender-based violence especially when relevant agencies are involved in the country’s dialogue.
Uche Unah the Unicef Desk officer with the National Orientation Agency, said Why the harmful cultural practices persist because of religious misconception and miss interpretation, gender inequality, a sense of belonging, and politicization of changes. he,, therefore urged the people to report a such cases if identified.
“We should note that harmful cultural practices are still in practice we should work as a team to stop it”.
Mr. Igwe Godwin representing commissioner for women’s affairs and social development in the state Princess Chinwe Okah on the overview of violence against children noted that Ebonyi has a high level of child labor, denial of child education rights and urged parents to put an end to it by protecting their wards.
He said child labor exposes children to social vices such as joining armed robbers, and cultism at an early stage.
Adding that Sexual violence and child marriage should stop.
Igwe said perpetrators shall be prosecuted accordingly and urged the people to always report suspects so that the law will take its cause.
The Desk Officer; Child Abuse and Trafficking, state Ministry of Justice, Barr. Ijeoma Mike-Ajanwachukwu urged Traditional rulers to always allow all cases of divorce and custody of children to be determined by the court after they might have tried all possible
Bar. Ijeoma appealed to the men to report any violation of their rights as no one deserves to be violent. She assured that the law will take its cause on such a woman violenting the husband’s right.
HRH Eze Umezuruike in his submission urged rape survivors to avoid disposing their underwear after being raped rather run to the nearby police station where it will be used for forensic testing which will be used in the court.
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