By Ibrahima Yakubu : The International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA in collaboration with other women organizations has held a peaceful protest in Kaduna saying enough is enough of all forms of girl-child abuses including rape across the country .
Speaking at what, they called Stand-still rally in Kaduna, President of the Chapter, Zainab Atoba, noted with dismay the rate of violence against women and children in the society saying that it was getting out of hand.
She therefore stressed the need to quickly address the menace through stiffer penalties to save lives of women and children.
“Rape cases is on the increase in the country, putting lives of women and children on danger on daily basis”, she said.
Zainab pointed that most of the rape victims face psychological trauma and other health challenges,as many dont even have money to go for medical treatment .
According to the chairperson of the association, they are gathered to say (No to rape in the society)
She note that at every minute ,there is report on rape of a child in the country while stressing that , this is not really good for women and children’s in the country.
Zainab said, they want Government to punish rapists through castration or sentence to death in order to end most innocent children face in the society
She also called on religious leaders, traditional title holders and other stake holders to support the battle against child-rape and other maltreatment metted on children in the society.
Similarly, the national president of Jamiyyar Matan Arewa, Hajiya Rabi Saulawa emphasized the need to educate parents and guardians to always watch the movement of their wards.
She also said there is the need to engage traditional titled holders and clerics so as to sensitize the public on the dangers of raping children and women in the society.
Also speaking, the National President of Interfaith Dialoque , women wing Kaduna, Hajia Aisha Kazaure expressed worries over increase abuse of children and women in the society due to lack of commitment to punishing offenders ,
Aisha applauded the organizers of the peaceful rally saying, it should be a continuous process
In another development, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani ,an interfaith specialist has called on Civil society organizations and Non-governmental organization, National Council for women and society ,Rural and Urban Women Organization to equally join and embark on taking advocacy visits to relevant stake holders in the state,in order to make sure that there is a review in the constitution on rape cases.
She also advocates more women across the country to join the campaign against all forms of child abuses and domestic violence in their communities.
Ramatu who was speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, called on all necessary stakeholders in the fight against child abuse such as UNICEF, WHO, federal and state ministry of women, security forces and para-military to wage war against the menace.
She stated that reports on violence which include sexual assault, battery, rape, defilement; trafficking, forced marriage, abuse and host of other vices against women and children, were on the increase and must be checked.
