By Ruth Oginyi
Mrs. Mary-Maudline Nwifuru the Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Monday, July 17th, 2023 said she would put in her best to fight for women, girls, and children’s rights in the state and beyond.
Mrs Nwifuru who described child trafficking and other forms of abuse of women and children as a criminal offence warned perpetrators against such acts.
She spoke in Abakaliki, the state capital during the flag-off community sensitization on the rights of Ebonyi children and the need to stop child trafficking in the State.
Mrs. Nwifuru at the community sensitization empowered some survivors of domestic violence to enable them to cater to their children.
In her words, women, girls, and children have suffered a lot of abuse, and her office wouldn’t like to see such gender passing through such in- humiliation from the perpetrators without receiving justice.
Mrs Nwifuru decried the denial of women to their fathers’ properties and said that she will advocate for a law to empower women to own their father’s properties.
“Gender-Based Violence has been eating us up. The cases have been going on in Ebonyi State. Before I resumed office, I saw a post on Facebook in which almost 20 of our girls are doing prostitution in Anambra State.
“Those girls are now in Ebonyi State because we had to pull them out of that place and we have arrested the culprit.
“Child trafficking is a criminal offense and we will not spare the culprits. Our mothers should help stop this menace, we should take good care of our children and avoid giving them out for whatever reason.
“We say no to child abuse, child trafficking, child surgery, and other forms of abuse. Stop maltreating the kids living with you. I am the mother of Ebonyi State and I will fight for every child in this state.
“We are going to train those girls. So, we have experienced terrible experiences in this Gender Based Violence and that’s why I have to kick off instead of waiting for the launching of my pet project. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
“We will bring up a law and we will work on it to give us our rights, women’s rights to own our father’s properties because the denial of women to own their father’s properties is even the main abuse. We will push for the law with the support of our husbands”, she stated.
The state Coordinator of Gender-Based Violence taskforce in the state, Barr. Faith-Vin Nwanchor, in a lecture, said lack of political will is a challenge in the fight against abuses against women, girls, and children.
She, therefore praised Mrs. Nwifuru for her commitment to fighting the mayhem and putting an end to it.
“Over time, norms and traditions have made GBV a way of life. Her Excellency has brought us together to fight this menace. We are going to change all the norms that have all the times put us down.
“Through our research, we have noticed that 90 percent of Ebonyi women have suffered or still suffering GBV. This is why we are saying no, let us identify it so that when it is happening to you directly or indirectly, you will be able to identify it”, she said
On her part, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Bar. Felicia Nwamkpuma said the sensitization was a pathway to ending all forms of child abuse, youth restiveness, gender-based violence, and other harmful practices that affect the people in society.
She said “This program is a pathway in eradicating all forms of child abuse, youth restiveness, gender-based violence, and other harmful practices that affect our people.
“My office has mapped out a well-tailored plan of action for the realization of the aspirations of this administration when it comes to our policy thrust. I call on our Chairpersons of the 13 Local Government Areas to champion this crusade for a glorious Ebonyi State”.
