BE WISE International, a non-governmental-organisation that projects and promotes womanhood has listed the challenges confronting women, stating that such challenges need urgent attention.

Speaking on the occasion of the International Women’s Day in Lagos, with the theme “#I choose to challenge Rape;#I choose to challenge gender inequality; #i choose to challenge domestic violence; #i choose to challenge female genital mutilation”, the Convener/President of the organisation, Chichi Madueke Onwe, lamented that with the current onslaught against women in the society they are now endangered species.

Onwe, who is also a human right lawyer, activist and strategist, said that government should try to be enforcing the laws against the violation of women.

According to her, over the years men have been taking advantage of women because the laws against violating the rights of women are not being enforced to the letter.

She commended some state governments that have given proven rape cases maximum sentence, adding that, that would help to serve as a deterrent.

Speaking further, she said that apart from rape, domestic violence is also in the increase.

According to her, women are human beings with rights, soul and feeling and should not be treated as being among house hold properties.

“We, the members of BE WISE International want to use the occasion of this year`s International Women`s Day, to lend our voice to the rising cases of rape, domestic violence, gender inequality and female genital mutilation.

“We also want to use this opportunity to congratulate Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her election as the Director General of World Trade Organization. We are proud of her because she is making us proud,” she said.

The organisation also used the occasion to distribute face masks, sanitary towels and other items to the public.

BE WISE International, though newly formed, has become a force to be reckoned with in the advocacy for womanhood.

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