BY NKECHINYERE OGINYI
The government of Ebonyi state Tuesday launch the State Gender-Based Violence Taskforce to strengthen the campaign on ending GBV in the state.
The state government also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Law Enforcement Agencies, Ministries of Justice and Women Affairs, and the State Gender-Based Violence Taskforce Team in the state.
The event which took place at Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki was powered by a non-governmental organization called Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities, ESERC, with support from the EU-UN spotlight initiative, and Ministry of Women Affairs Development, and other implementing partners.
Speaking during the launching, the state Governor Engr David Umahi explained that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was the most pervasive human rights violation in Nigeria.
Umahi said the practice is the most widespread in the southern part of Nigeria.
He however said the age-long obnoxious practice had drastically reduced in different parts of Ebonyi State.
That the reduction was possible through various policy implementation and interventions of the State Government.
Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Deborah Chinwe Okah, the Governor frowned at Gender-Based Violence against women.
"GBV is the most pervasive human rights violation in Nigeria."
"Gender-Based Violence is the most pervasive human rights violation in Nigeria and FGM as a form of GBV is widely practiced in southern Nigeria with Ebonyi State having the second-highest number after Ekiti State.
"But the scourge was drastically reduced through the timely intervention of Mrs. Rachal Ogbonnaya Umahi with the support of UNFPA by publicly declaring against the practices of the State."
In her remarks, the state Coordinator of the GBV task force team, Barr Faith Vincent Nwanchor expressed the readiness of the task force team to ensure that those suspected to be involved in the practice of GBV were brought to book against All odds.
She said the launch of the Ebonyi State Gender-Based Violence Taskforce had emboldened the members to be more proactive towards stamping out violence against women in different parts of the State.
"We are happy that all our implementing partners are here. I want to appreciate every one of us."
