Wives of traditional rulers in Abuja are calling for the deployment of more female lawyers to the 17 chiefdoms in Federal Capital Territory, to help tackle cases of Sexual Based Violence at the grassroots.
The women under the auspices of Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers, AWTR, believe that the strengthening of the traditional justice system will also help combat issues of gender discrimination.
The General Secretary of AWTR, Mrs. Halima Mohammed, at a press conference to mark the 2023 International Women’s Day, called on women to speak out against gender and sexual based violence.
Mohammed said, “We therefore call on the FCT Administration to provide more female lawyers to the traditional institution for smooth delivery of Justices, as well as to support other initiatives aimed of improving the administration of traditional Justice for indigenous women experiencing sexual and gender-based violence, SBV.”
She added that the AWTR will be organising empowerment programme for the women to enable victims of SBV and the indigenous women in the 17 Chiefdoms in the FCT contribute to both community and national development.
The Head of Literacy Unit of the Department of Mass Education, Bwari Zonal Office, Ifeoma Anozie, said that government is partnering with AWTR to empower women in literacy and numeracy, especially for those who were affected by early marriage, low finances or other issues.
“The Department of Mass Education, is here to help for indigenous women to complete their education. They are usually awarded certificates which is equivalent to First School Leaving Certificate. With this they can gain entrance to Secondary School. We have those who have passed through us and are now in the universities and Polytechnic.”
She explained that mass education is free and it is teacher based for the convenience of the women.
Meanwhile, the AWTR Programmes Director, Hannatu Usman, admonished the women to access the empowerment Projects on Literacy while remaining as good home and bridge builders for the development of their communities.
She recounted the rescue of 21 year old Buhaira Ibrahim who was saved from spousal battering during her forced marriage when she was just 17 years. She explained that with the prompt assistance from our legal partner, the Legal Aid Council led by the Director General, the case was heard at the Bwari Area Court, in accordance with the Khul on the Quaran. Buhaira was later pronounced free of the forced marriage and gender based Violence, GBV.
