Centre decries GBV in Abuja community

The National Centre for Women’s Development (NCWD) has raised the alarm over “high rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and rape” in Mabushi, a small community of largely indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Director General of the centre, Mary Ekpere-Eta, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when she visited the community to mark the International Day of the Girl themed ‘My voice, Our Equal Opportunity’ and to educate the locals on the need to protect girls from GBV.

Drawing attention to the need for children in poor communities to be sent to school to curtail rape, Ekpere-Eta said poor communities needed encouragement to educate their children and protect their rights for a healthy and developed society.

Speaking on the importance of preserving the dignity of girls, the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, called on leaders in Mabushi to protect their girls through formal education.

NCWD, in partnership with Procter and Gamble, donated 10,000 sanitary and hygiene pack to girls in the community, and 5,000 diapers to women.