The South-South Professional Women Association (SSPWA) in conjunction with the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) have concluded advocacy programmes across the nook and crannies of Delta State to commemorate this year’s 16 days of Activism against Gender-based Violence.
The 16 days of global activism against gender-based violence is an annual event instituted by the United Nations and is observed every November 25th to December 10th to create awareness against gender-based violence globally particularly to eliminate violence against women and girls.
The South-South Professional Women Association SSPWA in conjunction with the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta PIND, during the 16 days engaged different community leaders, schools and faith-based organisations as well as motor parks and markets with the aim of drumming support to end gender-based violence in the society.
Delta State chairperson of SSPWA, Dr Joyce Ogwezi, who noted that violence against women and girls ranges from domestic, verbal, physical, and sexual among others, called on victims to always speak out and implored critical stakeholders to be united in the quest of ending femicide in the Niger Delta.
Dr Ogwezi added that gender based violence is a pandemic that needs to be taken seriously to ensure the protection of women and girls who are most vulnerable during a crisis.
The Uvwie Council Chairman, Mr Ramson Onoyake, represented by the Council’s Chief administrative officer, Mrs Faith Omoregie, said his administration will always identify with the advocacy against gender based violence in the council area.
Others who spoke at the event, including the President-General of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief A. H Erute, Comrade Joseph Oniti of Centre for the vulnerable and under-privileged, representatives of the Chief Inspector of Education, Uvwie council and that of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW all lauded the NGO’s for taking the crusade against gender based violence in Uvwie council area for the past sixteen days.
Participants at the event also took time to share their thoughts on gender based-violence and offered suggestions on ways to eradicate the societal menace, while gender-based violence champions for Uvwie Local Government Area were inaugurated to further the advocacy against the canker worm.
The theme for this year’s activism was ‘united efforts towards ending femicide in the Niger Delta.
