By Victoria Onehi
The President of the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) Mrs Ruth Agbo, has said research shows that 64.4 per cent of 45 women interviewed in the work place had been beaten by their partner ( husband or boyfriend) and 56.6 percent of 48 market women interviewed admitted experiencing such violence.
Agbo was speaking on Friday at the awareness campaign organised by AWITA in support of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which began 25th November and ended on Human Rights day on 10th December.
” Economic violence involves controlling a womans ability to gain,use and sustain economic security and potential of self- sufficiency. It occurs when the victims financial resources are under full control.The abuser having full control on the victims money and other economic resources or activities.” She explains.
Agbo disclosed that AWITA has responded to the challenge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) by setting up a Gender Desk with active helpline to combat the manace against market women and farmers.
The Programme Cordinator,Womens Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) Yemisi Nathaniel, said economic violence can be reduced when women are empowered economically and when policies that speaks to social protection are put in place by the government.
“However,every woman should find something doing to support themselves.And when you have a job or business and it looks like you have a higher earn in the home and you are being oppresed by your spouse, speak out.” She said.
Corroborating this,the President Seed Multipurpose Corporative Lugard Okonobo, said one of the ways of eliminating violence against women is by ensuring that they have economic empowerment adding that they are doing that by ensuring women have access to soft loans through the cooperative.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Pauline Tallen who was represented by Hauwa Mustapha commended AWITA for putting the event together.
“We believe it will transcend positive outcome as a violence- free society means positive development leading to a more robust socio economic development in the country.”She said.
One of the participants and a poultry farmers,Uche Ohuoba said the enlightenment campaign has helped her understand better economic violence in the market place and the need to speak out when her rights are being violeted
The sensitisation campaign was organised by Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) and supported by Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) under the Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) Project.
