Abia First Lady Appeals Support For Gender-Based Violence Victims

Mrs. Priscilla Otti, the wife of Abia State’s governor, has urged all parties involved to band together in the fight against injustice and violence that disproportionately impact women and girls in society.

Otti made the call on Tuesday during a summit to mark the end of the year 2024, 16 days of activism against gender-based violence held in Umuahia, the state capital.

She stated that the fight against GBV is not one that any individual or organization can win alone.

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“It demands a united, multisectoral approach involving every stakeholder, government, civil society organisations, law enforcement agencies, healthcare providers, educators, and community members,” she said.

Otti further revealed that the state government is not relenting in the fight against gender-based violence but has gone ahead in inaugurating the GBV response team and the GBV management committee.

These bodies, she explained, will bring together key stakeholders to ensure a coordinated response to GBV cases, which will include overseeing prevention strategies, ensuring timely intervention, and monitoring the provision of support services for survivors.

Recognizing the financial barriers that survivors often face in seeking justice or rebuilding their lives, the Abia First Lady said that the state government, through her office, has also established a GBV Victim Support Fund.

According to her, the fund is dedicated to helping survivors access legal aid, medical care, counselling, and emergency shelter when needed.

“We have also gone ahead to strengthening awareness campaigns to challenge cultural norms and stereotypes that perpetuate violence and silence victims, training law enforcement agencies and judicial officers to handle GBV cases with the sensitivity and urgency it deserves, and enhancing partnership with NGOs, community leaders, and international agencies to ensure that survivors receive comprehensive care and support.”

However, Mrs. Otti said she is delighted that the violence against persons prohibition laws would be domesticated in Abia State and appeals to the leaders, law enforcement agencies, educators, and community members to partner with her in ensuring that Abia State becomes a haven where every person can live free from violence and fear.

According to her, as the First Lady of Abia State, I remain deeply committed to this cause. Together, through our multisectoral efforts, operationalizing the VAPP law, and with unwavering determination, we will end GBV and build a future where the rights, dignity, and safety of every individual are upheld.

“Let us not wait for another moment. Let us act now and let our actions echo the message that violence has no place in Abia State.”

Reflecting on the theme ‘Advancing Gender Justice and Child Protection Through Strategic Partnership,’ the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Abia State, Maureen Aghukwa, stated that Abia has seen the devastating impact of GBV and therefore called for collaboration and collective effort to end the menace.

In their separate speeches, Caritas Nigeria, the Federation of International Women Lawyers, civil society Organisations, security agencies, and other individual partners agreed that GBV leaves indelible marks in the hearts of its victims and sometimes leads them into horrible lifestyles.

They call for the domestication of the VAPP law through various languages of understanding and a dedicated court of competent jurisdiction to adjudicate cases of gender-based violence.

Meanwhile, the traditional rulers who spoke through His Royal Highness, Eze Ifeanyichukwu Nwokenna of Ekeoba Autonomous Community in Ohuhu Umuahia North LGA, said that the time has come for the government to empower the traditional rulers to implement laws protecting widows and female inheritance.

Also, the traditional ruler of Owuwa Anyanwu in Ohafia LGA maintained that the culture was dynamic.

According to him, “Today’s society is evolving. Therefore, obsolete cultures with harmful practices against women and girls should be jettisoned to usher in new ones that protect the rights of women and children.”