The alarming rate of gender based violence in Cross River State, especially against women and the girl child has posed concern to the State Government. This has prompted the Ministry of Women Affairs to seek collaboration from stakeholders in order to curtail the menace.
During a media parley to flag off this year’s 16 days of activism in the State, Dr Edema Erom, the Commissioner for Women Affairs lamented on the increased level of the evil and sought a collaboration while speaking to stakeholders, which she said is necessary at this point to achieve a successful campaign to fight the evil.
The 16-day event at which is supposed to hold from November 25th to December 10th was attended by all stakeholders, among them are Coalition for Gender Justice, ECEWS, FIDA, NHRC, CCAPI, NUJ and notable GPI.
In these 16 days, it will be collectively used to campaign for Violence Against Women and the girl child, International Day for Persons with Disability, World AIDS Day, and International Human Rights Day. All will be observed on their respective dates.
Dr Edema Erom, Cross River STate Commissioner for Women Affairs
The Commissioner made it known that State seeks an end to child marriage, female genital mutilation, intersex genital mutilation and stigmatization, including other cultural based discrimination against women and the girl child. She commended the State Judiciary for creating more family courts to hasten the hearing of gender based violence cases, and as her ministry gears up in the battle, she said more courts will be needed.
Dr Erom advocated for speedy investigation of all cases of violence against women and the girl child. She assured that the sex offenders’ registers will be made accessible to the public to avoid shielding offenders.
She also solicited for allocation of budgetary provision for the implementation of violence against persons prohibited child law, and Disability Right Law and an improvement in the provision of health services for survivors of sexual and gender based violence and right holders.
