Follow Us on Google
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Edema Irom, has disclosed that several factors including subsidy removal and harsh economic policies are fostering gender based violence in the state.
Edema Irom disclosed this in Calabar during the beginning of activities to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day.
According to her, “The prevalence of sexual and gender based violence (GBV) has been on the increase.
“The number of young girls and women engaging in transactional sex and other negative coping mechanism since the past three years has also increased.
“This is as a result of COVID-19, climate change, removal of fuel subsidy, and other harsh economic policies, social and cultural factors.
“Rural women in business and agriculture are seeking financial empowerment and support that have been grossly inadequate for a very long time in the state,” she said.
She also disclosed that the percentage of women in policy and decision making process in the state is less then 10%, percentage that benefit from agricultural grants less than 29% and not more than 31% women are in large scale business because they lack access to land for collateral purposes.
The commissioner however disclosed that the present administration in the state is determined to fight for the rights of women and girls.
She said the government will key into the Nigeria for Women project with about 5000 women and girls benefitting and with the VAPP Law in place issues of issues of gender based violence will be addressed.
She added that the state now has a one stop centre where GBV survivors can get all the services they need in addition to a resource centre where women are encouraged to develop themselves as they prepare for politics.
