A leading Non Governmental Organization that advances the right to health and life of citizens, Centre for the Right to Health has concluded a three-day capacity building workshop organized for cultural and religious leaders at Obibi-Uratta and Emekuku both in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
This followed a successful two-day gender based violence and disabilities step down training held at the Central Mosque Owerri organized for Imams and members of Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN).
The Programme Director, Centre for the Right to Health, Mr. Bede Eziefule said the aim of the training was to build the capacity of women with disability and women rights organizations to respond effectively to issues of gender based violence, and also to engage cultural and religious leaders to advocate against the ills of gender based violence in the state.
He noted that the organization had successfully conducted central level trainings, hence the community level training and sensitization, which is targeted at building the capacity of the cultural and religious leaders, sensitizing them on gender based violence and prevention.
He expressed delight that participants had expressed willingness and commitment to raising the awareness about gender based violence with a view to mitigating the impact and preventing it from occurring in their communities.
Mr. Eziefule identified female genital mutilation, domestic violence, child labour, exclusion, sexual abuse and other harmful widowhood practices as some of the ills plaguing women and girls in the communities, and hailed the participants’ commitment to review their byelaws with the aim of ameliorating these ills and addressing the concerns of women and girls with disability.
The traditional ruler of Azaraubo Autonomous Community, Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area, HRH Eze Chris Nwamara said there had been no reported case of molestation or harassment of any sort in the community, even among persons with disability.
He said the community was aware of the rising cases of gender based violence in many communities and as such, had adopted appropriate measures to address any case of abuse, particularly against women and girls with disability.
Eze Nwamara who is also the Secretary of Owerri North Council of Traditional Rulers commended Centre for the Right to Health for extending the training to the community level in fulfilment of its earlier promise and pledged his support to enable them actualize their goals.
The President General of Azaraubo Autonomous Community, Mr. Kevin Nnadi said the training had exposed him to so many things about gender based violence and the challenges the Survivors face.
He promised to use his position to draw attention to the plight of the physically challenged persons in the community and redouble efforts towards assuaging their sufferings including making favourable laws to address their concerns.
The Palace Secretary to HRM Eze Obi Ejeshi of Emekuku Ancient Kingdom, Honourable Ibe Chukwuma Ph.D said the prevalence of gender based violence should worry every sane mind and stressed the need for its total eradication.
He hinted that the training had enlightened him more on gender based violence issues as they affect women and girls generally and those with disabilities and promised to put into practice all he had learnt at the training to better the lot of women and girls in his community.
He particularly promised to step down the training to members of his community, collaborate with public spirited individuals to raise funds and empower the physically challenged women and girls in the community with relevant skills.
Miss Lisa Nwamara of Azaraubo Autonomous Community bemoaned the discrimination of women and girls with disability and promised to become an advocate of gender based violence and disability in her family, community and society at large.
Ugoeze Celina Ariri, wife of the traditional ruler of Obibi Uratta Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Sir Boniface Ariri, expressed worry over the neglect to the plight of women and girls with disability most especially in accessing public places and their education.
She promised that the community would set up a committee that will identify their needs and possibly provide them.
The President General of Obibi Autonomous Community, Uratta, Nze Alphonsus Oriaku said the training was an opener, educative and very impactful that would end every form of discrimination against women and girls in the community.
He promised to step down the training to other members of the community and also include gender based violence issues in their new constitution.
The President of Catholic Women Organization in the area, Mrs. Emmanuella Onu said she would report the outcome of the training to the church, create awareness on gender based violence and challenges of women and girls with disability as well as address their concerns in the new constitution of the Catholic Women.
Some of the facilitators of the training, Mrs Joy Onuoha and Mrs. Juliet Okeiyi had earlier sensitized the participants on effective preventive strategies of ending gender based violence, how to advocate the right of women and girls with disability, as well as how to develop an action plan and tasked the participants on their commitment towards achieving the goal of the training.