By Mimi Chiadikobi in Awka.
The Chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ),Anambra chapter, Mrs Franklyn Onyekachi, has called for the enforcement of Violence Against Persons prohibition bill law in the state.
Mrs Franklyn Onyekachi.
She made the call during advocacy event to mark 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence(GBV)in Awka on Thursday.
Onyekachi said that the chapter was grateful for the domestication of Violence Against Persons prohibition bill, passed into law in Anambra by Governor Willie Obiano in 2017.
“We are grateful that the Federal Government enacted the law in 2015 which Anambra government deemed fit and passed it into law .
“Since the bill has been passed into law in the state, the relevant bodies are charged with need for effective enforcement of the law to curb the menace.
“Women should be protected and made to enjoy their life, instead of been treated badly and intimidated by abusive husbands which leads to untimely death of such women.
“Perpetrators of violence against women should be made to pay for their disservice to humanity as a deterrent to other intending violators of womanhood,” she said.
She said the chapter joined the world to kicked against GBV and condemned violence against women in any form or shades it takes place in the world
Mrs Onyekachi said that violence against women made them lose their value either as women or girls, adding that it is right to stop any form of violence against women.
“Perpetrators of violence against women should be made to pay for their disservice to humanity as a deterrent to other intending violators of womanhood,” she said.
Onyekachi urged women to speak out once they were abused or violated by their abusive men in other to help the law take its full course on such people.
She said that women needed to speak out so that violators were made to pay for the crime they committed against women and the society and to end violence against girl-child and women.
NAWOJ chair person said that a stiffer enforcement of the law, domesticated in the state remained very important because lots of violence were being carried out against women.
“These violence come in different ways, like early marriage against the will of the girl-child who is under age to make her own decisions.
“We say no to rape, wife battering, female genital mutilation, emotional violence, harmful practices amongst others,” she said
She called on traditional rulers, community leaders and faith-based organisations to step up their roles as custodians of customs, traditions and faith, to ensure that girl-child and women are safe.
Mrs Onyekachi said that community and faith-based leaders wrre in a position to wield influence to ensure that women were safe and well cared for by their husbands.
“The traditional and faith-based leaders have the influences to change the mind set of some men who see their wives as a mere property like television, radio, refrigerators because is possible for such men to violate their women.
“The fight is to enlighten the men who violate women, for them to stop because such act makes women live in lasting fear and make them lose economic value.
“ We want this act of violence against women to end so we appeal to community leaders and other stakeholders to educate the men on need for them to have respect and regard for their women,we need a change of the narrative,” she said.
Onyekachi said that the sensitisation was aimed at teaching the women not to maintain a culture of dieing in silence but speak out so that help could be offered before they die in silence.
She said that women should be aware of VAP law and know what to do once they found themselves in a very difficult and violent situation.
“ Women wake up, know your right and say no to violence of any type,” she urged.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
