A non-governmental organisation, Women Support Women for Human Empowerment and Mentorship Initiative (WOSUWO), has expressed concern over undue delays in the dispensation of court cases involving violations of women’s rights.
The group said prompt and appropriate justice would help curb rising cases of abuse against women, especially rape and other forms of violence.
Speaking in Enugu while addressing journalists, the Executive Director of WOSUWO, Onyinye Mamah, said that although there are sufficient laws to protect women’s rights, implementation has been lacking despite the increasing incidence of abuses and degrading treatment.
Mamah observed that violence against women and other inhuman practices had risen in recent times. She warned that continued silence by stakeholders could normalise such behaviour.
“We are women and have chosen to speak out against these sudden menace in society. We want to raise our voices because we refuse to let this become the norm. Inequality and the lack of acceptance of women’s rights disrupt the natural order of social justice,” she said.
Referring to the recent Ibom Air incident involving a female passenger, Comfort Emmerson, who was stripped naked, Mamah said: “Recently, we witnessed a woman being humiliated in one of the airlines operating in Nigeria. Images and videos from that incident will continue to circulate. I saw three men forcefully push her in that airline and attempt to push her off the aircraft. Whatever led to such treacherous and offensive acts against a woman is unacceptable.”
She also cited the case in Anambra where a corps member was beaten and stripped by a security group called Agunechemba. “To worsen the situation, a few days ago in Anambra, a vigilante security outfit known as Agunechemba severely beat and stripped a lady. Security outfits are meant to uphold the right order, ensuring not only physical safety but also the protection of rights,” she explained.
Mamah commended the prompt action of the Soludo-led administration in addressing the Anambra case.
