2 NGOs set to implement 5-year action plan to end gender violence in Ebonyi

Two NGOs, the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL) and the Spotlight Initiative say they will implement a five-year action plan against gender-based violence (GBV) in Ebonyi.
Director of WACOL, Prof. Ngozi Ezeilo, made the declaration in Abakaliki on Wednesday.
She spoke at a two-day train-the-trainers workshop on the implementation of the national action plan and the promotion of the welfare of women and girls in Ebonyi.
“We are going to implement a five-year action plan on violence against women and girls.
“We hope when developed, it will give the state a direction on how to go about implementation of activities towards ending all forms of violence,’’ she said.
Ezeilo said the two-day training was part of the nongovernmental organisations plans to train government and private individuals on the need to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
“This is one of the activities we are implementing this quarter on the national action plan on violence against women and girls.
“We want it to be replicated in all states of the federation.
“We intend to train civil servants, Civil Society Organisations, and governments’ partners on the national action plan,’’ Ezeilo added.
In her remarks, Mrs Deborah Okah, Ebonyi Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, commended the initiators for the enlightenment to end gender-based violence in the state.
Okah, represented by Mrs Marcelina Ibina, Director of Women Affairs in the ministry said the state government would continue to partner with the NGOs to implement the national action plan.
Ms Helen Kalu, a resource person, lamented the relegation of women in decision-making, particularly on gender issues.
She said that the national action plan would ensure an all-inclusive system where women would decide on how to end GBV in the country.
Newsmen reports that officials of the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Correctional Centre, those of Civil Society Organisation and the media attended the training.