Our Reporter, Abuja
WomenAid Collective (WACOL) has joined hands with Ford Foundation in a move to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in Anambra State.
The group on Wednesday, at Don Ritz Hotel Awka, commenced a two-day Women’s Rights Advocacy and Leadership Training of 50/50 Action Women for the elimination of violence against women and girls in Anambra State.
The training is said to be aimed at enhancing the capacity and advocacy skills of community women leaders and advocates, for the promotion as well as the protection of women’s rights in their respective communities.
After the training, WACOL expects to successfully inaugurate the Anambra Chapter of 50/50 Action Women who in turn will be expected to engage “critical stake holders, including traditional and religious leaders to eliminate harmful social norms and practices that result in discrimination and violence against women and girls”.
According to the Founding Director of WACOL and former United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (OON), the programme became even more necessary against the backdrop of the recent spike in abuse of women in Anambra State.
Only recently, a viral video of a woman stripped naked, assaulted and paraded in the marketplace in Aguleri surfaced online.
Similarly, another widow in Nanka community also in Anambra State, was allegedly ejected from her home and left in the cold barely a few days after her husband’s death. “Both incidents drew strong condemnations and protests from NGOs and concerned individuals across Nigeria and beyond”, Professor Ezeilo observed.
Participants at the Training Workshop were drawn from civil society, academia, MDAs, female entrepreneurs, community women leaders, including female youths in Anambra State.
