Delta State Gender Coalition meets Dame Okowa

Delta State Coalition against Gender-based violence yesterday embarked on a peaceful rally to meet with the Wife of the State Governor and the founder of the 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa.

The rally held at  Government House, Asaba, is part of the activities to commemorate the 2020 16 days of activism against gender-based violence with the theme “ Orange The World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect”.

During the rally, Dame Okowa advised mothers to avoid hushing their daughters so as to encourage them to speak up whenever they are faced with unpleasant situation.

The wife of the Governor thanked the different groups that made up the coalition saying their actions shows genuine interest in the fight against Gender-based Violence.

She however noted that the activism should be extended to churches and market places to enable more people know when their rights are violated, adding that proper collation of data is also needed to achieve breakthrough.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Barr. Julian Ogwulu, who is the Executive Director, International Center for Women Empowerment and child Development (ICWECD), said the activism started on November 25th,which is the International for the elimination of violence against women will end on December 10th, the International Human Rights day.

She explained the day, marked worldwide, targets raising awareness on the problem of violence perpetuated against women and girls.

Barr Ogwulu observed that the recent enactment of the Delta State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, which is against all forms of violence on male and female represents a formidable instrument in prosecuting offenders.

The Executive Director listed intimate partner violence, battering, psychological abuse and marital rape as some forms of violent abuse perpetuated against women and girls in the society

she also mentioned femicide, sexual violence and harassment such as rape and unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse.

Others are, human-trafficking, slavery, female general mutilation, child marriage, e.t.c

The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigerian (MWAN) were part of the group  that visited the founder of the 05 Initiative.