Traditional rulers in Cross River on Tuesday, harps on the need for concerted efforts in the fight against Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
They want stakeholders like government, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), as well as local communities to join in ensuring that issues of GBV are dealt with decisively.
They made the call in Calabar, at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs, in partnership with UN Women and supported by the Ford Foundation.
The forum, held in three local government areas, aims at sensitising community leaders, on the need for local responses, to issues of violence against women and girls.
Freedomoline reports that the traditional rulers are championing a renewed campaign against GBV in rural areas, where such issues are prevalent.
Speaking on the heels of the event, secretary of the Creek Town Traditional Rulers Council, DSP Effefiong Eyo (rtd.), harped on the need to strengthen traditional institutions, as agents of social protection.
“Traditional leaders must move from being passive observers to active defenders of the vulnerable in their communities,” he said.
While faulting the absence of security presence in creek town, he also underscored the importance of intensifying awareness of existing laws against GBV as well as harmful traditional practices.
According to him, the area has become a refuge for criminal elements, fueling cultism, and resulting to increased cases of teenage pregnancies.
“Our biggest setback is the lack of functional security outfits; these criminals exploit that vacuum, leading to rising cases of teenage pregnancy and cult activities,” he said
He, consequently, called on the state government to collaborate with the Nigerian Police, to adequately staff the creek town police station, as part of efforts to restore safety.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Ukelle traditional rulers council, Chief Ignatius Olam, expressed willingness to abolish harmful cultural practices which especially violates the rights of women and girls.
“We are committed to discarding customs that are inhumane to women; but real progress requires structured systems for reporting, referrals, and prosecution,” he said.
He, consequently, urged the need for adequate sensitisation and urged law enforcement agencies to work towards achieving the objectives of the initiatives.
In the same vein, a clan head of in Boje community, Mr Leonard Akam, called for sensitisation at the grassroots, to ensure that members of the community understand the law.
“Government must drive awareness in local dialects and enforce laws against child marriage, human trafficking, female genital mutilation, and harmful widowhood rites,” he said.
He, said that many natives lacked awareness of laws touching on Violence Against Persons, Child Rights Law, as well as the Widowhood Laws, adding that there is need to train the police on enforcement of same.
Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Rita Eteng, said that the forums were part of efforts to enlist traditional rulers as allies in the fight against GBV.
She said that the engagements which featured legal education, interactive sessions, and community-focused discussions, are all aimed at driving change.
