Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Monarchs in Anambra State have declared their commitment to eradicating norms and practices encouraging violence against women and the girl child in the state.
Their resolution was made known in a communique they issued at the end of a one-day multi-stakeholder strategic conference organised by Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government Area and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The communique signed by the Secretary of the Council on behalf of the Council Members condemned violence against women and the girl child in the various communities and assured their hard-work and collaboration in eliminating the harmful practices.
The traditional rulers expressed their resolve to eliminate harmful traditional practices such as widowhood practices; denial of inheritance; forced and girl child marriage; harmful rituals; exploitation and trafficking of women and girls; and including other degrading treatments and practices.
The monarchs said they are committed to respecting the rights of women and girls as recognized in the state, national and international laws; and are available for actions aimed at codifying communal laws and regulations that will protect women, widows and their inheritances.
In their other commitments, the council emphasized its readiness to implement the supreme court judgment that females have a right to inherit property from the family estate, whether married or not and the inclusion of women in decision on issues affecting them.
They also assured to encourage and include women in leadership positions as well as report their right cases in line with the international human rights legal framework to have a state free from violence against women and girls.
