The Benue State Government (BNSG) is poised to create an enabling environment that would facilitate efforts aimed at reducing to the barest minimum, issues of human rights abuses in the state.
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia disclosed this Tuesday at the Old Banquet Hall of Government House, Makurdi while addressing stakeholders after being presented the communique issued during the commemoration of a Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.
Governor Alia who was represented by his Chief Of Staff, Rt. Hon. Paul Biam, also promised to liaise with partners and other critical stakeholders to ensure that policies and programmes targeted at minimizing Gender Based Violence (GBV) were fully implemented in Benue State .
The Governor further encouraged Benue people to always be morally upright to chart a positive pathway for the younger generation to follow even as he urged parents, particularly mothers, to educate their female children on the need to always dress properly to avoid unnecessary harassment from the opposite sex.
While congratulating the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the numerous achievements they have recorded in the fight against GBV, the Governor assured that his administration would continue to appoint more women in positions of responsibility.
He further thanked the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, development partners, collaborators and other stakeholders for taking out their time to engage in enlightenment campaigns and awareness creation about GBV.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Ann Itodo, represented by the Director of Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Andoor while presenting the Communique to the Governor, said the Sixteen Days Activism which featured different kinds of activities, was a deliberate effort aimed at creating awareness and educating the people on the need to end GBV in Benue State.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Alia and other stakeholders who made various contributions to ensure the success of the event.
Also speaking, Personal Assistant to the Governor on people with disabilities, Mr Bem Anshe acknowledged the efforts of Governor Alia towards the welfare of people living with disabilities saying the administration has made deliberate efforts towards addressing their needs and protecting their rights.
On her part, the Acting Director, State Sexual Assault Center, Linda Ene Delisu said the center would continue to support in the fight against GBV as well as taking care of health challenges of victims of GBV in Benue.
In their separate remarks, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Doctor Anthony Ojukwu represented by the State Coordinator, Mr David Adzenda; Mrs. Lucy Ato of APIN Public Health Initiative; Victor Egbo Esq. of Lawyers Alert; Beatrice Shomkegh of United Nations Human Rights all assured of their sustained support to the fight against GBV and called for the establishment of Sexual Assault Centers across the twenty three Local Government Areas in Benue to enable victims of GBV access health care services.
The theme for this year’s Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence which commenced on 25th November and ended 10th December is “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls”.
