Tina Amanda
International Federation of Women Lawyers, and her partners, have called on government at all levels to declare a state of emergency on the incessant killings, sexual molestation of women and children across the Federation.
Chairperson FIDA, Ngozi Ighosevbe, who stated this to newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the evil act ravaging lives of young women and children both boys and girls in the communities should be tackled with more holistic and aggressive approach.
She called on the Chief Judge of the state to designate a special fast-track court to handle Gender-Based violence matters in the state.
“FIDA Nigeria strongly objects to this evil trend of incessant abuse and sexual molestation of women and children and we demand speedy and decisive action. Government needs to declare a state of emergency on gender-based violence, so it is tackled forthwith, most efficiently and effectively across all states of the Federation.
“We advocate for the establishment of a sexual referral centre with rapid response teams attached, comprising the Police, doctors, lawyers, social welfare officers, psychologist, psychiatrist, to reduce the victim of trauma and aid the preservation of evidence for Prosecution of perpetrators.
“Any parent, neighbours, relations, guardians, who conceal the act of rape, defilement cases and all forms of violence against children and women, either to protect their marriage, family name, to protect the victim or perpetrator for any reason will be brought to book and be prosecuted by the law”
On her part, President Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State, Dr Vetty Agala, stressed that medically, sexual abuses cause psychological problems to the child, as well as damage the genital tracts of the child, which may lead to several health complications on the victim.
“Victims of sexual molestation are bound to face psychological problems most especially children because it affect their mental, physical, emotional state due to the shock and the severe pains experienced, it may lead them to suicide attempt or committing suicide. It leads to unwanted pregnancy, abortion, bleeding and so many complications during delivery”
She further emphasized that Medical Women and her partners are advocating for free medical and legal access for victims of rape and defilement, as most victims can hardly afford money to access medical treatment and legal clinics.
Also, Ebikeme Itonyo Father of the twenty-one year old final year student of Law Rivers State University, Maltida Mark Itonyo who was brutally raped and murdered in her hostel room on December 9th 2019, demand justice for the gruesome murder of his daughter.
He laments that till date he is yet to get any vital information from the Police on who is responsible for the death of Maltida after numerous autopsy have been conducted on his daughters corpse.
Itonyo called on the support of the state government, in ensuring that his daughter’s killers are apprehended and brought to book.
Similarly, Mrs Blessing Itoro whose ten year old daughter was defiled by their family friend, one Eniobong Essien at Ubaama in Oyigbo local government area of the state, also demand justice for her defiled daughter.
