Don't keep quiet when you're abused, Mrs Soludo tells women

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By Madu Obi

The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has urged women not to keep quiet whenever they are abused, arguing that speaking up is a major aspect of fighting the scourge.

Mrs Soludo, who spoke during a programmme to commemorate the commencement of this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, said it is time to find practical solution to the problem and change the narrative for good.

The governor's wife said she has raised a voice of action and joined the global community to kick off sixteen days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which will end on December 10, usually marked as Human Rights Day.

What these series of crucial fixtures remind us is that it is time to find practical solutions and change the narratives for good.

In a world where women and girls still feel threatened by the same environment and institutions that should ordinarily help them to grow, we need to go beyond just talking about it. It's time to engage in practical activism.

Eliminating gender-based violence should be everybody's concern. At homes, schools, work and worship places, and indeed anywhere that accommodates human relationships, every woman must be protected, guarded, and supported to grow and flourish", she stated.

According to her, the major aspect of the campaign is to defeat the attitude of quietness from those who are facing different kinds of abuses.

She said further: "We must understand that speaking up is a major aspect of fighting every scourge. Talk to people, report to appropriate authorities, just speak up!

We can end gender-based violence if we can direct the right concerns and take the right measures. Empowering women and girls with education, providing quality and affordable health care access, opening up access to jobs and innovative opportunities and strengthening our social institutions, can do a lot more in the advocacy than we can ever imagine.

Thankfully, I'm proud to say that we recognize those important positions in Anambra State and have greatly changed the whole narrative".