Rivers
Dame Amaechi Laments Rate Of Rape
Wife of Rivers State Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi has lamented the high rate of child rape in the society and solicited for the cooperation of the media in the protection of the rights of children.
Mrs Amaechi stated this during an interaction with newsmen shortly after the 2-day national summit on women participation in politics at Abuja.
She said reports on child abuse and rape cases have become a daily occurrence that gives so much concern to parents and diminishes the nation’s rebranding initiative.
The Governor’s wife said the passage of the Child Rights Act is not just imperative, but that its implementation must be religiously followed to check the gully trend.
“I have 2000 children in Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) Nursery School, and I will be sad that those kids are molested. Any man that rapes must face the law.
“I hate rapist and that is why I initiated campaign and lobbied for the passage and domestication of the child rights acts in Rivers State, so that all rapists must be brought to book”., she said.
Mrs Amaechi, who also commented on the two-day Abuja national summit on women in politics, commended the Federal Government’s support for women’s 35 per cent affirmative action and urged the media to serve as watchdog and partner in the new initiatives.
According to her, “the media has a significant role to play in advancing the interest of women and children and can act as checks in the new understanding between parties in the nation’s quest for actualizing the national gender policy of the country”.
She added that Nigerian women possess high pedigree that stands them but in any endeavour including politics.
According to her, “the nature of Nigeria’s politics has prevented qualified women from participating in politics, but the renewed awakening championed by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and support from the Federal Government will encourage and motivate more qualified women politicians to vie for positions”
Mrs Amaechi, who is the Founder, of ESI a non-governmental organization, said additional 200 women will be empowered through the women commercial transportation scheme, while about 2000 less privileged children are registered at the 43 ESI model nursery schools in four local government areas of the state reiterated her determination to relocate the schools to their permanent sites in each of the 23 local government areas of the state.