By Dennis Agbo

The Igboetiti local government council in Enugu state has driven home advocacy for awareness on Gender Based Violence matters into the nooks and cranny of council areas.

In the advocacy which included road walks and rallies, technical officers on Gender Based Violence sensitized the rural communities, especially their women, on what constitutes infringement on the rights of individuals and the limits of both men and women in the violation of opposite genders.

The council particularly took scorn on the violence against women through the practices Odo and Omabe masquerading in the council area and warned against assault or attack on women through the practices of masquerade tradition and culture.

Chairman of the local government, Dr. Eric Odo said that after having over two weeks activism on issues of domestic violence, defilement and rape, the council still wants to cascade it down so that the real beneficiaries of the programme, to make them understand further what the issues of gender based violence detail.

The Chairman noted that issues of gender based violence, defilement and other vices have been well captured in the extant laws and that what is needed is to tap into the laws to prosecute offenders as protection of vulnerable victims.

Chairman of the Igboetiti committee on the eradication of gender based violence and vice chairman of the council, Hon. Chinasa Nwabufo disclosed that the local government was the first council in the state to commence the advocacy.

“Our chairman and indeed the entire leaders of Igboetiti local government council is taking these matters seriously, to the extent that domestic violence, child labour, rape and even a woman attacking the husband are now serious offences in the local government area.

“We’re speaking out for them and telling them that it’s no longer business as usual. We have a dedicated line in the office of the Vice chairman where victims can call for immediate attention. The message is that nobody has the right to hit or rape anybody and it’s not just restricted to female victims alone because some women molest their husbands,” Nwabufo stated.

The first Lady of the council and wife of local government council chairman, Her Worship Nmuta Odo stressed that the message was to engender gender equity, peace and serenity among both male and female genders.

“Once there is reduction of violence, the people of Igboetiti will enjoy all the benefits of the five point agender of the first Lady of the State. The laws are there to help the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.