By Egbo Grace
Traditional rulers and town union leadership in Ebonyi State and other states in the South-East have been charged to change the existing obnoxious traditional practices that increased gender-based violence in the zone.
The group gave the charged in a communique issued at the end of one day South East Traditional and Religious Leaders summit on ending Gender Based Violence and harmful practices in the zone organized by wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi, in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Abakaliki, the state capital.
The communique which was drafted by Chijioke Ogbodo and Nancy Oko-Onya, called for the implementation of the existing Laws against gender-based violence in various states in the South-East to end the act.
The group noted that 36 out of every 100 women age 15-49 in South-East zone of the country have experienced physical violence while 38.5 out of every 100 women age 15-49 in the zone have experienced spousal violence.
It further urged states in zone that have not domesticated Violence Against Persons Prohibition(VAPP) Laws to take bold step and domesticate the said laws.
They also pleaded with the states that have already domesticated the VAPP Laws to give life to the laws through full implementation and punishing violators.
The communique also called for increased collaboration between government and her agencies with traditional rulers and religious leaders to end gender-based violence and harmful practices in South-East.