WINET Strengthens Women’s Groups In Abia To Tackle Gender-Based Violence

The Women Information Network, WINET, has intensified efforts to strengthen women’s rights organisations in Abia State to build stronger movements capable of preventing gender-based violence and advancing the rights of women and girls.
The Executive Director of WINET, Mrs Miriam Menkiti, stated this in Umuahia during a one-day capacity-building training organised for leaders of women’s rights organisations in the state in collaboration with the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement.
Menkiti explained that the training was designed to equip women leaders with practical skills in movement building, gender-based violence prevention, feminist leadership and intergenerational leadership.
She said the programme formed part of the broader Strengthening Women’s Movements in Nigeria, SWMN, initiative, which seeks to build an inclusive and coordinated women’s movement capable of advancing gender equality, social justice, and the economic and political empowerment of women.
According to her, the initiative is being implemented by Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with WINET responsible for activities in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
Menkiti said strengthening the capacity of women’s rights organisations was essential to enabling them to respond more effectively to gender-based violence and other violations of women’s rights.
She also acknowledged the support of the Abia State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Maureen Aghukwa, towards the success of the programme in the state.
Speaking on the challenges confronting women’s rights advocacy, participants identified economic hardship and insecurity as major obstacles to effective mobilisation and protection of victims of gender-based violence.
The Public Relations Officer of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD, Miss Chioma Ekoro, said women’s rights advocates sometimes face threats while supporting victims of gender-based violence.
She therefore called for greater protection from security agencies and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators of rights violations are brought to justice.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Medico Legal Aid Foundation, Dr Akudo Amanamba, advocated the inclusion of security agencies in capacity-building programmes for women’s rights organisations.
She said the presence of security personnel would enable participants to obtain accurate information and guidance on procedures for seeking justice for victims of sexual abuse and other rights violations.
Also, the Leader of Grassroot Community Development Initiative, Mrs Gladys Ihediwamma, called for stronger collaboration between women’s rights organisations and traditional, religious and political leaders.
She said such collaboration would help to sensitise communities on the dangers of violating women’s rights, particularly the rights of persons living with disabilities.
Ihediwamma commended WINET for the training, saying it had provided women leaders with additional knowledge and tools to strengthen their social movement in the state.
The training brought together leaders of different women’s rights organisations in Abia State, with sessions facilitated by WINET Executive Director, Mrs Miriam Menkiti; Programme Manager, Mrs Ijeoma Obinna-Onwuka; and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer and Gender Desk Officer, Mrs Chinelo Dim.