BEVERLY HILLS, May 26, (THEWILL) – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has formed a synergy with Church leaders in Cross River State to end all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence, SGBV.
The UN Agency is of the view that the passive disposition of the church was not helping to end the menace in the country.
Mohammed Okorie, the UNICEF Chief Fields Officer in Nigeria, made this known in Calabar when he flagged off a two-day stakeholders’ meeting of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) powered by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative.
Okorie said: “The passive posture of the church against the various harmful and cultural practices targeted at women and the girl-child is counterproductive to global efforts meant to tackle the issue.
“The church must wield its overwhelming influence over the harmful and discriminatory treatment being meted out to the female gender if maximum impact is to be achieved in ending the menace.”
The UNICEF envoy added that the stakeholders engagement was designed to equip participants with vital skills and information needed to address the challenge of SGBV.
He also emphasized that the workshop “will also help mobilize the church hierarchy towards eradicating the threat to women and girls with balanced and objective bible interpretations devoid of generic bias”.
Chairman of the State chapter of the Christian Council of Nigeria and former Finance Commissioner in the state, Reverend Takis Caifas, expressed delight at the collaboration.
He expressed optimism that, “This will help confront the age-long deprivation suffered by the womenfolk based on inhuman theological doctrine and degrading cultural practices.”
He described sexual and gender-based violence as a horrific and grave violation of human rights, which should not be tolerated in any ramification.
A resource person, Uzuaku Williams encouraged church leaders to raise a voice against abusive practices that women were being subjected to under the guise of culture and lopsided doctrine within the Christian fold.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
