through the streets of the state capital, Owerri, in their black attire
to protest against violence, rape, molestation, and sexual assaults on
women and girls.The match, which ended at the Government House, Owerri, Imo State, saw
the women carrying placards with different inscriptions such as Say no
to rape!
Receiving the protesters, wife of the Governor of Imo State, Her
Excellency, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma commended the women and girls for
being bold to register their anger and rejection of the heinous act
perpetrated against them in Imo State in particular and Nigeria in
general.
Represented at the occasion by the Imo State Commissioner for Gender and
Vulnerable Group, Hon. Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu, Mrs. Uzodimma said that “in
affirmation, Imo women have said no to rape.”
She informed that the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill
before the Imo State House of Assembly will soon be passed into law to
protect women and girls against all forms of violence and other vices
antithetical to women existence in a democratic government.
Her Excellency reassured the women and girls that she is with them in
the protest march, promising them of government maximum protection in
the prosperity government of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Presenting their protest to the wife of the Governor, the Coordinator,
Imo State Committee on Ending Violence against Women and Girls
(ISCEVAWG), Mrs. Marjorie Ezihe requested, on behalf of the women, that
the 9th Assembly urgently pass the VAPP Bill into law, as a legal
framework to ensure protection, prevention, and redress for all forms of
violence against women and girls in Imo State.
They further asked for the establishment of a functional and responsive
State Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at Imo State Teaching
Hospital, Owerri, which should be managed by the State Ministries of
Health, Gender and Vulnerable Groups, and Justice, and also pleaded for
provision of services to all victims of sexual assault.
Civil Society Organisations, the National Council for Women Societies,
the Moslem Women Organisation, the faith groups, and all others who were
in attendance raised their voice against gender-based violence,
demanding justice for rape victims. They asked for a stop to violence
against girl children, insisting that rape is inhuman and should not be
tolerated.