Imo Govt Tasks Traditional Rulers On Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
Traditional rulers from across the three senatorial zones of Imo State have pledged their support for grassroots advocacy after a visit by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Office of the First Lady and UN Women.
The visit led by Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu, paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze E.C. Okeke (Eze Imo), and other prominent monarchs in the state.
The meeting was focused on engaging traditional leaders in the battle against gender-based violence (GBV), particularly highlighting the need to eliminate detrimental widowhood customs, female genital mutilation (FGM), and the infringement of women’s inheritance rights.
Lady Ugwu seized the opportunity to urge the traditional rulers—characterized as the most immediate branch of governance to the populace—to actively participate in safeguarding vulnerable women and girls within their communities.
She said: “As custodians of our culture and traditions, you are the first line of defence for women and girls at the grassroots.
“You must speak out against practices that dehumanize widows and subject women to physical, mental, or emotional trauma. Those who perpetuate these acts must be held accountable and punished to serve as a deterrent.”
She emphasized the commitment of Her Excellency, Chief (Dr) Mrs. Chioma Uzodimma, who has made the fight against GBV and harmful traditional practices a cornerstone of her work as First Lady.
In response, HRM Eze E.C. Okeke commended the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the First Lady, and the Ministry for their unwavering efforts to safeguard the rights of women in the state.
He said: “The time has come to move beyond lip service. We, the traditional rulers, are fully committed to this campaign. We will take this message to our various communities and ensure it reaches every corner of Imo State.
“We will ensure that other traditional rulers under our senatorial zones—Orlu, Owerri, and Okigwe—are equally engaged in stamping out these harmful practices.”
The advocacy visit included the distribution of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law booklet to all attending royal fathers, equipping them with legal resources to aid in the enforcement of women’s rights at the community level.
Imo Govt Tasks Traditional Rulers On Fight Against Gender-Based Violence is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
