The alarming and increasing cases of gender-based violence in our Society has attracted passionate individuals in the country, one of such is the wife of the Executive Governor of Akwa lbom State, Her Excellency , Deaconess Dr. Martha Udom Emmanuel.
Flagging-off the 16 days Activism against Gender-Based Violence, on Thursday, 25th November, 2021, Dr. Martha Udom who also Chairs the Management Committee, earlier inaugurated by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa lbom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said “one out of three girl children experiences one sort of gender-based violence on a daily basis especially children from poor backgrounds.”
While insisting on the need to break out from the culture of silence, Dr. Martha added that, not speaking out is neither helpful, and rather more harmful.
She implored all hands to be on deck to end the menace of gender-based violence in the Society.
The Governor’s wife assured Akwa lbomites of her readiness to be a voice to the vulnerable and appealed to traditional institutions of the land not to settle rape cases out of Court, as pepertrators must be convicted.
According to her, “numerous measures have been put in place to curb the menaces, and one of such is the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law. (VAPP) LAW, 2020.”
Dr. Mrs. Udom thanked the Police and other Law enforcement agencies for their proactive contribution towards checkmating issues of gender-based violences and noted that, families and Religious institutions, also have their part to play.
Among those who spoke at the event were the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Augustine Umoh, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, and Barrister Eno Akpan.
