Abia state government and other stakeholders have reiterated commitment towards curbing sexual violence against women and girls in the state.
They also harped on the need for victims of sexual abuses to always speak out whenever they are assaulted by perpetrators of the act.
They disclosed this during a workshop organized by the Ministry of Women affairs and Poverty Alleviation in collaboration with a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Girl Child Art foundation in Umuahia.
In her remark, the Commissioner for Women affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix said that the state government is committed in the fight against sexual violence on women and girls in the state.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director, Child Development in the Ministry, Mrs Ngozi Nkuche warned that anybody caught in any form of sexual violence or rape would be made to face the Abia Violence Against Persons Prohibitions Law which has been domesticated in the state.
Mrs Felix urged parents to always monitor their children especially their young girls in order to know the kind of people they move with in order to avoid been victims of rape
In their separate contributions guest speakers; Dr. Helen Agharanya and Mrs Onyinyechi Nwosu, called on victims of sexual violence to always report to relevant authorities anytime they experience sexual assaults from their perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of the NGO, “Girl Child Art foundation”, Mrs. Susan Okocha said that they decided to embark on the programme to enlighten people, especially women and girls on ways to avoid been victims of sexual abuses.
Some of the participants in an interview commended the organizers of programme, stating that they have learnt a lot on how to avoid been victims of sexual abuses.
Participants were drawn from different communities and towns within the state capital.
