The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Plateau State branch, has conducted a training for its members on defending the rights of the vulnerable and halting gender-based violence.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Plateau State FIDA Chairperson, Mary Izam, said the training would sharpen members’ skills for the work ahead of them.
She cited a recent incident in Mangu Local Government Area where female children were turned into sex slaves by hoodlums.
“The theme of this FIDA week is apt considering the increasing rate of sexual and gender-based violence in our society which calls for the awakening of FIDA in the dispensation of its mandate.
“We need to remind ourselves constantly of our roles of being the voice of the vulnerable as more women have been turned into sex slaves in our societies,’’ she said.
She said the association was ready to fight for the vulnerable in the society.
In her remarks, Country Vice President of FIDA Nigeria, Rhoda Prevail Tyoden, said FIDA has been committed to addressing gender-based violence, harmful traditional practices, forced and early marriages and female genital mutilation by advocating for the adoption of the violence against persons (prohibition) act 2015.
Tyoden said the act is the bench mark legislation on gender-based violence in Nigeria and representing indigent clients in court for the infringements of these rights.
She encourage FIDA members to continue to sensitize the public on the ills of gender-based violence and the existence of the Act that prohibits gender-based violence, adding that there is more work to be done and that the reward of hard work is more work.
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