Group seeks protection for women with disabilities

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Centre for the Right to Health (CRH) has urged the Federal Government to implement the laws on Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child’s Rights Act, seeking to protect Gender Based Violence (GBD), especially on women with disabilities.
Executive Director of the health group, Dr Stella Iwuagwu, while presenting a documentary of some victims at a one-day stakeholders seminar in Owerri on Thursday noted that it has become imperative, following a recent survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the increase of the gender based violence.
Iwuagwu said: “World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 35 per cent of women worldwide have reported experiencing either physical or sexual partner violence or non partner sexual violence.
“According to a National Demographic and Health Survey in 2018, 31 per cent of Nigeria women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical assault and nine per cent sexual violence. The survey revealed that 55 per cent of them refused to speak out.
However, Iwuagwu noted that CRH, in its bid to stop the gender-based violence, would commence a programme to reach out to cultural and religious leaders in the grassroots on the need to sensitise vulnerable ones.
“Since we have known that women are the most targeted on gender based violence, we have decided to reach the cultural and religious leaders in the communities so that they can identify the ones in their churches or areas, “Iwuagwu said.
Bishop Geoffrey Okereafor, who also spoke on the occasion, encouraged victims of such attacks to report to the law enforcement agencies.