Cross River State - POWER Calls for Concerted Effort to end Violence against Women

[CrossRiverState]

     

 

She said POWER is ready to partner with relevant stakeholders to initiate practical actions towards ending violence against women. "For us", Mrs. Imoke said, "It is an occasion to review how far we have come in our struggle for gender equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for significant change".

Mrs. Imoke said violence against women and girls have serious short and long-term physical, mental, intercourseual and reproductive health problems for survivors and for their children, and lead to high social and economic costs.

She therefore called for the strict enforcement of legislation and policies that protect women, address discrimination against women and promote gender equality.

The International Women's Day is an annual event observed on the 8th of March to acknowledge the contribution of women to world equity, peace and development.

 

The theme for 2013 International Women's Day is "A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women". According to United Nations, violence against women is "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, intercourseual or mental harm of suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life".

As part of the events to commemorate this year's International Women's Day, POWER would hold a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders representing the civil society, government, the church, the private sector etc. to identify practical steps to end violence against women and girls.

Via: Cross River State Government - Official Press Release