Violence against women: 2023 Rivers State female candidates call for action

“In light of the widespread continuation of violence against women in every country of the world, 2023 Rivers State female candidates take this opportunity to firmly condemn such violence and encourage governments and non governmental organizations to take action against violence against women in all its forms”.

This recommendation was contained in a statement signed by Mrs. Mercy Joeking, coordinator, 2023 Rivers State Female candidates to commemorate this year’s international day for the elimination of violence against women on November 25.

The group noted that they are convinced that violence against women persist throughout the world in a wide variety of forms.

The statement sighted by Africa Update reads in part: As female politicians, violence against women in politics revealed that the insufficient implementation of laws, lack of support from security agencies and the judiciary, the socio economic divide and current power structures are the major reasons for violence that inhibits women’s political participation.

“women also experience extreme levels of violence in their homes. There are many reported violence against women in a variety of states around Nigeria in the past four years and domestic violence reoccurs consistently as a serious and widespread problem.

“This form of violence is notoriously under reported by the victims, while many countries have made progress in passing legislation to prohibit domestic violence , serious obstacles remain in effectively implementing this legislation.

” In Nigeria, although legislation exists which outlaws domestic violence, there is a general lack of awareness of this law amongst women victims of domestic violence and most victims suffer in silence due to traditional customs that value family cohesion over individual rights.”