Enugu Speaker calls for continuous community dialogue meant to tackle SGBV
The Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Uche Ugwu, has called for continuous community collaboration and dialogue to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the state.
Ugwu noted that SGBV, as a violation of human rights, also robbed victims of dignity and hope.
The Speaker said this at a Ford Foundation-supported dialogue organised by Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications in Enugu at the weekend.
Ugwu said that ending SGBV would require commitment of everyone.
“Silence in the face of atrocities is complicity. We must build a society where SGBV survivors are heard, not blamed.
“Everyone has a role to play in stopping this menace,” he said.
Ugwu commended survivors of SGBV, who had the courage to speak out, saying that their voices were inspiring change and prompting systemic reforms.
The speaker said that sustained public engagement would help young people to understand the dangers of violence and make informed choices that would promote respect and equality.
In her address, the Executive Director of Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications, Mrs Onyinye Udeh, described the event as a celebration of women’s endurance, community strength and tireless pursuit for equality.
Udeh said that effective communication was about voice, visibility and validation.
“Through storytelling, dialogue and cultural engagement, we challenge the harmful norms that have silenced women for generations.
“We have walked into villages where silence once protected abusers, and watched the same communities rise to defend survivors,” Udeh said.
She noted that collaboration among traditional rulers, women groups and local groups had brought a remarkable change in communities with regard to tackling SGBV.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law, Mr Jude Ilo, lauded Ford Foundation’s 65 years of advancing equality and human rights across West Africa.
“Women’s rights are human rights. Women are our biggest asset, and any society that disrespects women cannot reach its full potential,” Ilo said.
He commended Ada Oji-River Optimal Communications for championing the cause, saying that creating safe spaces for women to thrive would be essential for sustainable development.
A cleric, Rev. Fr. Mario Igbokwe, said that combating SGBV would require transformation of minds and change of attitudes.
“The Catholic Church is against SGBV in all its forms.
“To truly address this problem, we must walk the talk. Many of our social and psychological problems stem from unhealed trauma,” he said.
Igbokwe called for greater access to psycho-therapy for SGBV survivors, and urged women economic empowerment and public enlightenment to help in breaking cycles of abuse.
