The Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs. Joeba West, has reiterated the commitment of the Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s administration to empower widows through the Rivers state widows’ microcredit loan scheme.
Mrs. West made the call during the commemoration of the 2014 International Widows Day organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with the Gender and Development Action (GADA) in Port Harcourt, recently.
She stressed that widow’s empowerment is inevitable for sustainable development and called on individuals, corporate bodies and non-governmental organizations to see it as their social corporate responsibility by ensuring that the widows are economically empowered.
“Widows need to be supported and comforted like their male counterparts in our society. Gender discrimination in this regard has caused much havoc in the development of such women.” Some are so traumatized that they lose consciousness with reality while others struggle with great determination to overcome their plight”, the Commissioner stated.
She said the theme “Justice for Widows-Social Corporate Responsibility.” was appropriate to awaken the subconscious of women who most times mete out dehumanising cultural and traditional practices on their fellow women at the demise of their husbands.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Rivers state chapter, Mrs. Florence Tamunoala, said in other for the “Dehumanising and Harmful Practices Abolition Law 2003” to be effective, widows who are going through such practices must be aware of their rights and be prepared to follow through with litigation.
For Mrs. Tamunoala, though FIDA always tries peaceful mediation whenever widows’ rights are infringed, she advised that if due process litigation is not ignored FIDA is to give them the needed legal support.
Mrs. Perpetua Okara from the National Human Rights Commission on her part advised women not to debase themselves by indulging in immoral acts that will destroy their self dignity after the demise of their husbands.
She urged women to be economically empowered in other not to subject their household to any form of hardship in the event of the death of their spouses.
Okara also encouraged anyone with complaints to forward such issues to the National Human Rights Commission.
The event received support from the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme and the British Council.