Women have been urged to speak out against societal abuses meted to them to reduce the increasing wave of gender-based violence in the country.
The Focal Person, African Women Lawyers’ Association, Enugu State, Barr Sylvia Abana, stated this while speaking on this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
She said the database of reports of abuses against women in Enugu State was being built to determine the actual number of such cases.
Abana accused some men of physically and emotionally torturing their wives.
According to her, “Some men think that they bought their wives by merely paying their bride prices. Religious organisations are not also helping matters.
“They keep encouraging women to remain quiet no matter the oppression they face.
“We encourage women to speak out to end this wave of violence. Because many women are not educated, they can’t even know what to do when their rights are being violated.
“Some women are prevented by their husbands from finding jobs to earn a living. Women should be empowered to safeguard their rights.”
She called on well-meaning groups and individuals to sensitise women on their rights, adding, “Let’s interrupt any form of discrimination against women to avoid dying in silence.”
Also speaking, Barr Nnenna Anozie, Deputy Coordinator, African Women Lawyers’ Association, Enugu State, said this year’s event was built on activism to eliminate any act of physical, sexual, economic and psychological harm on women.
Quoting her, “The violation includes harmful cultural practices, denial of inheritance rights, widows being punished on allegation of killing their husbands, sex for marks in schools and so on.
“We tell women that there are laws that protect their rights, the same way men’s rights are protected.
“There are many platforms to report these abuses. In 2015, the Violence Prohibition Law was created to safeguard human rights in Nigeria.”
She advised victims to report to relevant agencies, assuring them of confidentiality. She added, “The law is there for you.
“The perpetrators will go to jail if found guilty. If you see something, say something.”
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is held for sixteen days, beginning on November 25th annually.