ENUGU – Anambra Traditional Rulers Council has frowned against all forms of Violence against Women and Girls, including harmful practices that affects women in the state.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of Multi Stakeholders Strategic Conference between the Traditional Rulers Council of Anambra State and the WomenAid Collective (WACOL) in partnership with the Ford Foundation West Africa, support Ministries of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Justice, Women Affairs and the 50/50 Action Women of Anambra State.
This multi-stakeholders conference was attended by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Commissioner for Lands, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice amongst traditional rulers across the three senatorial districts under the umbrella of the Anambra state Council of Traditional Rulers, the Founding Director of WACOL, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (OON), Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, SAN, Prof. Ogugua Ikpeze, Prof. Stella Okunna, women’s groups and civil society organizations, including the media.
The communique expressed commitment to the empowerment of Women and Girls in the state.
It said “That we are committed to eliminating harmful traditional practices such as widowhood practices; denial of inheritance, forced and girl child marriage, harmful rituals, exploitation and trafficking of women and girls, including degrading treatment and practices;
“That we are committed to respecting the rights of women and girls as recognized in the state, national and international laws;
“We also make a commitment towards actions to codify communal laws and regulations that will protect women and girls which include rejection of harmful traditional widowhood practices, including disinheritance of widows;
“That we are committed to respecting the rights of widows and widowers as well as committed to implementing the Supreme Court judgment that females have a right to inherit property from the family estate whether married or not….
