WARIF Urges Traditional, Religious Leaders To Spearhead Awareness Campaign Against GBV In Communities

UYO
By Victor Essang
The Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) has called on traditional and religious leaders to be at the forefront of championing awareness campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and other  harmful practices in their communities.
The programme head of WARIF, Adoola Potts-Johnson made the call over the weekend at the end of a sensitization walk in Uyo to advocate GBV, especially Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Potts-Johnson, who recalled that WARIF in partnership with UN Women through the UN-Leap Project had on May 8 trained traditional rulers and faith leaders in Uyo on dangers of GBV, after which the Traditional Rulers Council in turn had an open declaration for the abolition of all forms of violation against anyone, especially women and children, charged  the leaders to spearhead the advocacy efforts of WARIF in their different communities and churches.
She said the sensitization walk became necessary to solidify the declaration and assess their commitment to ending the harmful practices.
“This initiative is designed to assess the commitments made by traditional and faith leaders in Nigeria to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) and eliminate harmful cultural practices.
“It is not just only about the declaration we had in May, but to see it documented and implemented. We carried out a dialogue with community leaders, youth leaders across the four clans in Uyo, giving out our fliers to talk about dangers of gender based violence. We also shared with them number that they can call in response to some of these vices if they see something around them.
The Paramount ruler of Uyo, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, who was represented by the village head of Ikot Ntuen Oku, Eteidung Nsikak Ikpe Ntuk expressed happiness over the event, saying that they have been sensitized.
Okon added that there was a big difference because community people have adhered to the sensitization and are having attitudinal change.
He commended the WARIF and stressed the need to sustain the campaign while promising to abide by what they heard and push further the advocacy.
The Publicity secretary, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and youth leader, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Uyo, Pastor Mfon Umo said the church is doing its best to preach against the vices in their meetings and conventions.
The desk officer for the UN Women LEAP Project in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Nkechi Udoh,  who spoke with The Pioneer commended WARIF for championing the fight against GBV which she described as capital offense against humanity which must be eradicated.