2026 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GBV: IROM HARPS ON SYNERGY, TEAM WORK.By: Rekpene Uket and Eme Edet

As the global community prepares for 2026 16Days of Activism Against Gender -Based Violence ( GBV), an international event in memory of 16 Dominican women who were brutally murdered by their Emperor for speaking up against gender - based violence in Dominican Republic over 60 years ago.
   The Commissioner for Women Affairs Cross River State and Dean of Commissioners for Women Affairs in Nigeria, Hon. Edema Irom has charged stakeholders on the need for collaboration and team work for effective and efficient service delivery.
  Addressing the implementing partners at a stakeholders' engagement in preparation for the 2026 edition of the programme, Hon. Edema Irom emphasized that this year's campaign calls for renewed commitment, stronger collaboration and practical action to end all forms of violence against women and girls, adding that, the focus must go beyond raising awareness to delivering measurable results that protect survivors, prevent violence and promote justice. 
 Unveiling the theme for the year 2026 as: " Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Ensure Justice, Protect Survivors, End Impunity", Hon. Irom maintained that, Gender -Based Violence remains a serious challenge that requires a united response approach, she therefore called on all stakeholders to pool together resources, expertise, networks and experiences in order to develop and implement a coordinated programme that will create a lasting impact in Cross River State.
    Hon. Irom also urged partners to move beyond individual activities and embrace a common implementation plan with clear responsibilities, timelines and expected outcomes in order to strengthen community sensitization, engage traditional and religious leaders, empower women and girls to speak out, promote positive attitude among men and boys and ensure survivors have access to medical, psychosocial, legal and other essential services adding that, the ministry of Women Affairs is committed to coordinating the collective efforts of partners towards ending Gender -Based Violence.
  In their separate good will messages, Development Partners and other stakeholders took turns to commend the Hon. Commissioner and also expressed their commitment towards the success of the programme.
   The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA) represented by Jacque Karungi, Gender And Development Action (GADA), represented by Nnenna Ugbor, Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), represented by Cecilia Ofum, Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria ( AOON) represented by Francis Esuk, Office of the Wife of Governor represented by the Special Adviser to the Wife of Governor on Programmes, Apostle Oueen Eton as well as the only female Lawmaker in Cross River State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Member Representing Yakurr 2 state constituency, Hon.Rev. Dr. Mercy Akpama all commended the Hon. Commissioner for bringing stakeholders together.
 They also pledged their commitment to strengthen the reach and impact of campaign through collaborative advocacy, resource mobilization and community engagements.
    In a vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Obol Dr. Mrs Rita A. I. Eteng appreciated the Hon. Commissioner as well as the stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the meeting. She also urged them to translate the discussions into concrete actions adding that, the fight against Gender -Based Violence must go beyond 16 Days of Activism and remain a continuous collective responsibility.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Post

Money Marriage in Becheve

Image
Written By Kebe Ikpi There is a video going round via different social media platforms on the issue of okèngorò (money woman). According to the narrator, the money woman (a sinister form of child marriage) is prevalent in Becheve, Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State. Several concerned platforms have been inundated with this video and there have been different reactions from different statekholder. At the end of the video, the content creator advertised his editing masterclass. This, in my view, was the ultimate goal of the video.  In a swift response, the Wife of the Governor of Cross River State issued a statement saying that money marriage is an old practice that has been abolished. According to the statement, Reverend (Mrs) Eyoawan Bassey Otu, “undertook a comprehensive fact finding mission to investigate the current status of this ancient tradition in August 2023”. The statement says she drew her conclusion that the tradition has been abolished after that “fact ...
Read more

MONARCH PLEDGES SUPPORT TOWARDS CHILD RIGHTS LAW IMPLEMENTATION By Rekpene Uket

Image
The Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Ovai Elder Solomon Osim Edward has  pledged his maximum support towards the implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law. The Monarch made the commitment during an Advocacy Visit by members of the State Child Rights Law Implementation Committee led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom to his office in Calabar. Ovai Elder Solomon Edward reiterated his passion and commitment towards the welfare of children as well as their Rights, hence, he would not hesitate to give his full support towards the implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law. The Chairman, Traditional Rulers Council also informed the committee that the Council will meet in April,2025. He offered to give members of the committee an opportunity to address the Traditional Rulers on the provisions of the Child Rights Law. Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom who led the t...
Read more

Nigeria’s House of Representatives step down NGOs, CSOs regulatory bill

Image
  The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to step down the consideration of the bill for an Act to establish a regulatory agency for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The bill seeks to regulate the promotion of social development activities in Nigeria and for related matters, sponsored by Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli.  In his lead debate, Hon. Soli observed that the bill seeks primarily to establish the Agency to ensure NGOs as well as CSOs live up to their full potentials of societal development, as well as coordinate private-public development partnership.  He stated that the Agency will also ensure that these NGOs and CSOs are well regulated and managed to ensure they do not abuse the room for their performance in favor of unwholesome practices. The Agency when operational, Hon. Sada stated, will ensure these organizations stick to stipulated policy guidelines, help government to trac...
Read more

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2025

Image
 Williams Okoi Arikpo Today is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation and the Theme for this year is  "Stepping up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM" Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights, the health and the integrity of girls and women. Girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health. Although primarily concentrated in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, female genital mutilation is a universal issue and is also practiced in some countries in Asia and Latin America. Female genital mutilation continues to persist amongst immigrant popul...
Read more

BREAKING: Oronsaye Report to be implemented

Image
 COMPLETE LIST OF AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS AND PARASTATALS AFFECTED BY THE APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING [FEC] MEETING OF 26TH FEBRUARY 2023 ON THE ORONSAYE PANEL REPORT AGENCIES TO BE SCRAPPED 1. Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate to be scrapped and functions transferred to the Federal Ministry of Finance 2. National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) to be scrapped and functions transferred to the department of Basic and Secondary Education in Federal Ministry of Education. AGENCIES TO BE MERGED 1. National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) to be merged under the Centre for Disease Control in Federal Ministry of Health. 2. National Emergency Agency (NEMA) to be merged with National Commission Refugee, Migration and Internally Displaced persons [NCFRMI]. 3. Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) to be merged with Directorate of Technical Aid (DTAC) and to function as a department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4. Infras...
Read more