Enugu State Government has inaugurated a 26-member steering committee on Gender Based Violence (GBV) to fight the menace of sexual abuse and other human violence in the state.
The Enugu state Deputy Governor, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, inaugurated the committee in Enugu on Wednesday.
Ezeilo mentioned the members to include the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peace Nnaji, as the Chairperson.
Ms Evelyn Onah, Centre Manager, Enugu State Tamar Sexual Assault Referral Centre (TARMASAC), is the Secretary; Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, is a member, and others.
According to Ezeilo, the committee’s mandate will be to develop, implement policies and programmes for the prevention of gender based violence in the state.
She also said that the mandate includes “rehabilitation of persons who still fall victim to gender based violence, despite all the preventive efforts.”
She said that the committee must work very hard to consign gender based violence to the dustbins of history.
“This is Pursuant to operational policy thrust of TARMASAC, United Nations Children’s Fund, goals of the Child Rights Act and the Universal Sustainable Development Goals number five,” she said.
Ezeilo outlined the terms of reference of the committee to include:
Monitoring and implementing all policies, programmes and laws relating to GBV.
To conduct public awareness campaigns on reporting GBV cases and provide for the rehabilitation and promotion of the welfare of victims.
Develop a GBV prevention sustainable plan for the state through synergy between the private and public sectors.
She noted that the government’s aim of setting up the committee was to preserve human dignity regardless of gender, status or age.
The chairman of the committee, however, thanked the state government for finding the members worthy of the assignment.
“History is being made today and we are happy to have been found worthy for this very GBV committee.
“The problem of GBV has been perennial in Enugu state, Nigeria and the world at large.
“With the calibre of members we have in this committee, I am sure we will deliver on this assignment.
“We are going to serve and work in line with the terms of reference given to us and, finally, we are not going to disappoint Enugu state government and the residents,” Nnaji said.(NAN)
