The Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo, has decried the soaring cases of sexual harassment in the area.
The Commissioner called for a collective fight against the crime, which she noted is rampant across the nooks and crannies of the state.
Mrs Obinabo was speaking recently at a one-day symposium tagged UNIZIK declares war against sexual harassment/assault, organized by the Sexual Harassment/Assault Committee of the university.
Represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Women Affairs, Mrs Blessing Nweke, the Commissioner lauded the committee for contributing to the on-going war against sexual harassment.
“In Anambra, there is high rate of sexual assault. We know this because every Wednesday and Thursday, people gather in our ministry to report cases.
“From our data, sexual offences form majority of cases. So, we have to really look at how to solve the problem.
“Sexual harassment is beyond rape. It could come in the form of online sexual abuse.
Everyday occurrence
Obinabo welcomed the decision of UNIZIK to wage fierce war against the monster.
“Waging war against sexual harassment or assault is very important because it has become an everyday event in our society.
“Many victims don’t know how to get help and I feel this type of event should happen everywhere in Anambra.
“I will be brief because I’m going to attend to numerous people asking for help and for justice in our office because of the issue we are discussing here.
“We must sensitize the people to understand the risks, especially amongst students whose academic life sexual assault disrupts.
“The better we equip everyone with necessary information and knowledge, the better we are to tackle the problem.
“If you look around in school, your hostel, everywhere, perpetrators of sexual harassment are there. They are into serious networking.
“At the end of this programme, you will now stand strong, most especially students to lend your voice.
Lured with job offers
According to the Commissioner, some of the victims are lured with job opportunities from neighbouring states to Anambra.
“They promised them N50,000 or N100,000 monthly jobs. You’ll be going to UNIZIK to do part-time programmes.
“And on arrival, they will see another thing. As I speak to you, some young girls are being sexually exploited.
“Men are climbing them with coercion. Each of them has target of about 10 to 14 men every day and their madam has already told them that if you don’t live up to this target, you are not going to eat.
“To motivate you to see this as a project. Each and every one of us. Government cannot do it alone.
“The rate at which this harassment is ongoing, the civil society organizations, community-based organizations, the media and every-one of us is needed to win this battle.
“One major way to reduce the disturbing rate of sexual harassment is sensitization. Let’s go out there and sensitize others.
