• Women journalist intensify awareness campaigns

About 4,000 cases of Gender-based Violence (GBV) and child protection cases have been recorded in Anambra State this year. Out of this number, the government reconciled over 3,000 cases for different families through the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option, while the other more difficult cases were charged to court, resulting in 400 convictions

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, disclosed this while defending her ministry’s 2026 Budget before the House of Assembly Committee on Budget. She noted that with increased funding, her ministry would do more in protecting children, women and widows, as well as men who are abused by their wives.

Meanwhile, the State Chapter of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and stakeholders lauded the enactment of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2025, which criminalises cyber bullying and trolling, among others.

Speaking on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, with the theme, ‘Unite to End Digital Violence Against Women and Girls’ in Awka, yesterday, the Headline Sponsor and Chairman of Kates Associated Industries Limited, Ikem Osanakpo, said the organisation sponsored the event due to high rate of GBV in the society and to make people hear voices of NAWOJ in the campaign, to eliminate the scourge.

Osanakpo, who was represented by the Chief Executive Officer, Enebeli Osanakpo, called on the citizenry to take advantage of the Cybercrime Act 2025, which provides for punishments against online stalking and other forms of cyber bullying.

In her remarks, the state Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Amara Mojekwu, pointed out that the digital violence, which takes place online criminally, has been taken care of by the Cybercrime Act, 2025 by an imposition of two years imprisonment, including touching without consent, assuring of pro bono services for victims.

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Contributing, the member of House of Assembly representing Onitsha North 1 State Constituency, Mimiy Azikiwe, lauded the vista of opportunities created by digital space, but decried it hasn’t become a safe place for women and girls in the context of cyber bullying, especially in Africa and India.

Azikiwe, while appreciating the existence of federal and state laws against GBV, regretted that a lot of people were ignorant of them and called for a more sensitisation and enactment of stringent laws and to protect females from violence.

In her remarks, first female Mass Communication Professor in Africa sub-region, Stella Okunna, noted that the event by NAWOJ as a body of female media practitioners would afford the opportunity to amplify to their voices, raise awareness, and take collective action to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Organising Committee Chairperson, Rotn Oby Arinze, said: “Today, we stand united with a shared purpose: to confront, challenge, and ultimately end GBV in all its forms. Your presence here is a powerful statement that together, we refuse to remain silent in the face of injustice.

According to her, NAWOJ is committed to building a society where safety, dignity, and equality are guaranteed for every woman, girl, man and boy, as GBV does not discriminate.

(The Guardian)

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