By Agency
The Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Edema Irom, stated that the state recorded 586 cases of gender-based violence between January and October.
She disclosed this at a news conference on Saturday organised to kick-start 16 days of activism against GBV, noting that the figure represented only cases reported officially to government.
Irom said the ministry was putting structures in place in the 18 local government areas of the state in collaboration with non-governmental organisations to report GBV cases in real time to address the menace.
“We have a Technical Working Group with members drawn from the ministry and from the NGOs to find a way around the issue.
“The TWG meets quarterly to review efforts put in place to address the issue,’’ she said.
She explained that the 16-day activism aimed at creating awareness on the menace and honouring those who fought and paid the ultimate price to end violence against women and girls the world over.
“The 16 days of activism is an annual event which begins on Nov. 25 and ends on Dec. 10.
“It was set aside by the UN to commemorate the brutal murder of 16 women from the Dominican Republic who were killed for their activism against gender-based violence.
“The activism also commemorates the World Day for HIV prevention on Dec. 1; the International Day for Persons with Disability on Dec. 3 and the International Human Rights Day which holds on Dec. 10,’’ she said.
In his remarks, Mr Remi Ajuga of the National Human Rights Commission noted that gender-based violence constituted a major plank among issues handled by the Commission.
“With the activism which begins today, we have started the journey to end the menace,’’ Ajuga said.
(NAN)
