Women Coalition Protests Against Sexual Abuse In Enugu

Posted by African Examiner Enugu, Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

Coalition of non-governmental organizations, NGOs based in Enugu and led by Women Aid Collective, WACOL and Sexual Assault Referral Centre (TamarSarc), Tuesday expressed worry over the alarming rate of sexual abuse of women in the State.

The organizations, which said they were committed to the fight and elimination of violence against women and girls, said the development was disturbing.

According to them, sexual molesters in Enugu did not know age, as girls and children between five and 10 were being abused sexually.

Professor Mrs. Joy Ezeilo, the Executive Director, of WACOL, stated this when she led members of TAMAR SARC, National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ and the media in a rally to the Enugu State House of Assembly as part of ceremony marking the United Nations (UN) day to eliminate violence against women and girls.

She disclosed between March last year and now, Tamar Sarc has recorded over 400 cases of women and girls abused sexually.

Ezeilo who frowned at the unbecoming act said they came to the House to urge them to enact a law against violence against women and girls.

Her words: “We stand against sexual violence. We want you to make a law that would punish those that contravene the law,” Ezeilo stressed.

She noted that the law has been enacted in Abuja and wanted it replicated in Enugu.

The WACOL boss, who hinted that they were acting in collaboration with DFID Justice for All Programe, J4A, confirmed that she would want Enugu State to set apart huge sum of money to fight sexual abuse and assault in the state.

In his response, Speaker of the Enugu state House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Ubosi represented by Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, the House Committee Chairman on Information, noted that even though, the law against sexual abuse against women and girls was a national one, the lawmakers, would do everything possible to see that the law is domesticated in the state.

He expressed their support for any law that would shield women and girls from sexual molestation or abuse.