Stakeholders Vow to Intensify Awareness, Fight Against Gender Based Violence in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Stakeholders including government officials, legal experts and advocates have restated commitment to confronting one of society’s most pressing but often hidden problems: violence against women and girls.

The stakeholders who spoke in Awka at a workshop organised by Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), sought to strengthen the capacity of ministries, departments and agencies in Anambra State to take strategic action in preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).

Representing WACOL’s Founding Director, Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), the Programme Manager Mrs. Anulika Ezennia, in her opening remarks, said the workshop was designed to remind government institutions of their critical role in providing a coordinated, multi-sectoral response.

The session exposed the participants to the painful realities that globally, 27% of women between 16 and 49 years have suffered intimate partner violence, while 8% have experienced non-partner sexual violence.

In many homes, gender inequality fuels abuse, worsens sexual and reproductive health risks and leaves countless survivors in silence.

A Legal practitioner and resource person, Barr. Victor Onuchukwu, underlined that while men also face abuse, women bear the brunt of it worldwide.

He noted that no religion endorses violence but harmful cultural interpretations have deepened the crisis. He revealed that COVID-19 lockdown, exacerbated domestic abuse by trapping women with abusers.

Another facilitator, Barr. Christian Okechukwu Ekweh, dissected the laws and policies addressing violence against women and children. He stressed that rape is a criminal act and called for prioritising survivors’ stories, challenging harmful stereotypes and improving prosecution rates.

“Low resources, poor forensic support, and weak coordination often leave cases hanging,” he said, urging closer collaboration among justice, health and social service agencies.

Beyond policies and laws, speakers emphasised that breaking the cycle of violence also means empowering girls, dismantling patriarchy and building an egalitarian society where women’s voices matter.

Citing global examples, Onuchukwu noted that countries with more women leaders often perform better in governance and social development.

For many in the room, the workshop was more than a seminar, it was a reminder that behind every statistic is a woman or girl whose life has been scarred, silenced or lost.

As the session ended, participants were urged to carry the message into their workplaces and communities to emphasize the fact that violence against women and girls must no longer be treated as a private matter but as a collective fight for justice, dignity and equality.