By Lawrence Nwimo
About eighty percent of cases brought to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anambra State in 2021 are Gender Based Violence (GBV), Orient Daily reports.
The information was given by the Anambra State coordinator of the Commission, Nkechi Ugwuanyi, while unveiling line of activities to commemorate 16 Days of Activism by the National Human Rights Commission at the FCT and the 36 states of the Federation on Wednesday.
Addressing journalists, Ugwuanyi noted that the violence cuts across several thematic areas of gender issues including children’s rights, women rights as well as widows rights and blamed poverty, cultural values and illiteracy as major factors responsible for the continued violation of rights of women in the society.
She maintained that the abuse of human rights had been on the increase in the state, regretting that lack of facts, interests, money and poor compliance to privacies and rules on the part of staff of the judiciary had militated fights for prosecution of perpetrators in the state.
She also informed that the commission had been in constant battle to ensure reduction of such acts in the state by ensuring that such perpetrators were brought to justice irrespective of the numerous challenges.
On the proposed 16 days activism, the Coordinator disclosed that the commission had outlined series of activities that would lead up to her November 10 human rights day, stating that such activities would cut across sensitization of students on health implications of drug abuse as well as education on sexual reproductive rights.
She said “the 16 days activism is used as an organizational strategy that requires institutions and corporate bodies around the world to call for the prevention of violence against women and girls.
“The programme which will hold in collaboration with several NGOs will also offer free medical tests in the areas of HIV, Diabetes, Blood pressure as well as referrals after medical examination of patients by trained medical officers.”
Orient Daily reports that the commission would commence the 16 days activism on Thursday, November 25, 2021 with a road walk show with partnering Civil rights groups.
Advocacy visits to the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Chief Judge of the State CSOs and interactions with other Stakeholders would form the key activities of the 16 days activism.