*says perpetrators must go to jail
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has inaugurated a 60-bed space Gender Based Violence Center in Uyo, the state capital on Thursday.
Governor Emmanuel said the centre is designed to provide easy access to justice, medical interventions and skills to extend comfort, succor and hope to those whose homes have become tortured chambers.
He said his administration has declared zero tolerance for all forms of gender based violence, and therefore, called for incarceration of perpetrators of such act.
The Governor applauded his wife, Dr. Martha Emmanuel for her consistent effort to reduce sexual abuses and other forms of gender based violence in the state and expressed optimism that the all-in-one center would provide needed succor and restore humanity to victims of GBV.
Speaking on previous efforts by the state government to curb the menace, Governor Emmanuel said “I recall last year that we Inaugurated a State Management Committee on Gender Based Violence. The principal terms of reference was to eliminate or reduce GBV to its barest minimum.
“Our aim was also to bring to book those who engage in this act. I want to reassure the committee of the importance we attach to this project and our determination to back the law that we have enacted.
“Victims of sexual abuses must be rehabilitated, must be given new leases of life, their humanity must be restored and those who perpetrate those morally depraving acts must be sent to jail, by the grace of the judiciary”.
In her remarks earlier, his wife, Martha who is the Chairman, Gender Based Violence Management Committee, recounted her efforts and gains in curbing GBV in the state.
Mrs Emmanuel who informed her guests that the Committee has committed much effort and resources to create awareness on the issue, assured that the center would provide refuge and succor to victims of gender based violence.
“Today, we stand here to commission and open our signature and the biggest of our accomplishments, the building and commissioning of the State Gender Based Violence Center, built out of love and the desire to provide a safe place for victims of sexual and gender based violence and where they can learn a skill whilst trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.
“This facility is a 60-bed edifice, which will provide for many, not only shelter, easy access to justice, medical interventions and skill acquisitions but also provide comfort, succor and hope to those whose homes have become torture chambers.
“Those whose parents, guardians, spouses and neighbours have become their abusers and those who have become preys to perverts.
“Today, a dream has come true, as we have, as a state, reached out and touched the vulnerable, the tortured, the abused and the violated,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum whose members have been in the state for their retreat for some days now,
chairperson of the forum and wife of Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi applauded Mrs Emmanuel for the giant stride and appreciated Governor Udom Emmanuel for his huge support.
She reported that wives of governors across the country were all engaged in various projects and Interventions to curb Gender Based Violence in the country.
