Wife of Abia State governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu, has called for end to stigmatization of victims and or survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) as well as the country’s justice system to ensure investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.
Nkechi who made the call during a press conference in Umuahia, the state capital as the world marked International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women said violence against women and girls often impaired their productivity by reducing their contributions to the social, economic and political development of their families and communities.
She stressed that the psychological effects of GBV leave imprints on the minds of the victim making them live beneath their potentials.
The first lady said victims are less likely to report sexual abuses because of rejection, victim-blaming, stigmatization and a slow and ineffectual investigation or prosecution.
She said that it was important for the survivors to get access to justice and healthcare within a protected environment.
