Christian AID, HFDI Advocates Zero Gender Based Violence in Akwa Ibom

Christian AID, an International Development Organization has collaborated with Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI) to advocate for reduction in Incidence of Gender Based Violence among Women and Girls in Akwa Ibom.

This was made known at a Press Conference put together by Hope for Family Development Initiative for the Youth Voice and Accountability Project funded by Christian AID through Connected Development (CODE), held at HFDI office in Akwa Ibom for selected Communities in the zone.

The Executive Director HFDI, Mr Aremu Stephen Akinyele in his address affirmed that Gender Based Violence (GBV,) against women is a crime and human rights violence, rooted in the lack of equality between men and women, at home, within the family circle and the society, he added that GBV against women in Nigeria occurs in many areas, but more of domestic violence.

Describing the Gender Based Violence as Rape, Female Genital Mutilation, Verbal Abuse, Forced Marriage, Incest, Child Marriage, Refusing the Girl Child right to go to school, girls trafficking, degrading women among others, he added that the Youth Voice Accountability Project will ensure advocacy on the Communities such as Ikot Ibreitam, Ekparakwa, Ikot Ubih, Nun It's 11 and Mbiakot among others in Oruk Anam local government. 

Mr Aremu said stakeholders such as Nigeria Police Force, Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders, Kings and Chiefs and Youth Leaders among others will be involved in the project to ensure that an end comes to Gender Based Violence, adding that participation of Youth, Empowerment of Young people and innovative strategies to bring about impact and change through youth participation at the subnational level of governance and community sustenance in Nigeria is a must as part of the fundamentals of the project. 

In her remarks, the HFDI Programme Officer, Chinenye Peace stated that part of the activities of the Youths Voice Accountability Project, which will be implemented in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on COVID 19 preventive measures is advocacy visits to the targeted Communities of Intervention. 

She added that Capacity Building Training for Gender Youths Justice Advocate, Community Dialogue, Formation of Gender Based Violence Club, and Conduct of Consultative Meeting with Law Enforcement Member on Gender Based Violence among others with documentation, dissemination, monitoring and evaluation are part of the activities of the Youth Voice Accountability Project.