Joel Osaigbovo Aluge, Reporting
Benin City, Edo State
Taking the sensitization efforts to major markets in Benin City is a smart move. Markets are hubs of community interaction, making them ideal places to reach a wide audience and spread awareness about GBV and the laws against it. This initiative could empower individuals to recognize, report, and prevent instances of GBV.
It’s crucial to raise awareness about Gender-Based Violence and the laws in place to protect individuals from such acts. Education and sensitization efforts play a significant role in preventing and addressing GBV within communities.
It’s encouraging to see the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues taking proactive steps to address GBV by engaging directly with the community in major markets. By emphasizing the importance of complying with the law, they’re not only raising awareness but also promoting accountability and encouraging positive behavioral change.
Hon. Christabel Omoh Ekwu, Commissioner for Social Development and Gender Issues, who was represented by the director of Gender Department, Joy Ihensekien are actively involved in this important initiative. Their message to traders to refrain from practices related to GBV underscores the seriousness of the issue. By highlighting the consequences outlined in the VAPP Law, they’re emphasizing the importance of accountability and compliance with legal standards to create safer environments for all.
Commissioner Ekwu’s statement is powerful and direct, conveying the gravity of Gender-Based Violence and its detrimental effects on individuals and society. By urging people to desist from such acts, she’s emphasizing the moral and legal imperatives to treat others with respect and dignity. It’s a clear call to action to end harmful behaviors and create a safer and more just society for everyone.
Commissioner Ekwu’s stance against harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation, as well as abandonment of spouses, is crucial for promoting gender equality and safeguarding human rights. By emphasizing that perpetrators will face the full force of the law, she’s sending a strong message that such actions will not be tolerated. This firm stance helps to protect vulnerable individuals and ensures that justice is served for those who have been victimized.
“I thank God for giving us a Governor like Mr.Godwin Obaseki who knows the suffering of the citizens. Before now, people get freedom after defiling a girl child but I am happy that such has a severe penalty now which is life imprisonment,” she added.