As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the Rivers State Government and the University of Port Harcourt have renewed their commitment to ending gender-based violence across the state.
During an advocacy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Benibo Anabraba, condemned the increasing cases of abuse against women and girls, stressing that the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara will continue to protect the rights of the vulnerable.
Dr Anabraba decried the rising incidents of rape, trafficking, and domestic violence, warning that the state will not tolerate individuals who exploit their relationships to inflict harm or humiliation.
“We will not encourage or condone those behaviours, in fact, we detest them. The duty is placed higher on us to ensure that we prohibit, deter and punish people for such unlawful acts, such as rape and domestic violence,” he said.
He noted that the state government will continue to enforce the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, while encouraging parents, guardians, and members of the public to report all cases of abuse to the relevant authorities.
Also speaking, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Barrister. Vera Dike, outlined available legal channels through which victims can seek redress, including the Office of the Public Defender and the Department of Public Prosecution.
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On her part, the Director of the Centre for Gender, Conflict and Development Studies, Dr Adaku Ubelejit-Nte, said the 16 Days of Activism campaign, observed globally from November 25 to December 10, aims to raise awareness, influence policy, and mobilise action to end violence against women and girls.
“This year’s observance in Nigeria focuses on strengthening coordinated effort towards justice, prevention and survivor-centred responses in alignment with the national call for justice for Ochanya and countless other victims of gender-based violence,” the statement reads.
“In Rivers State, this period challenges us to reflect on the effectiveness of our policies, the state of our institutions, and the urgency of our collective action.”
