Governor Nyesom Wike has disclosed plans by his administration to sponsor new bills and review existing ones towards  stemming the tide of violence against women and children.
The governor lamented that there were many frequent and embarrassing cases of rape and indecent assault of very small children whose parents were not ready for prolonged court cases and collected pittances as out of court settlement from offenders.
He called on International Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA) in the state for special committee to tackle frequent cases of violence by men against women which are often regarded as domestic affairs between spouses by the police.
Wike suggested that FIDA should appoint members who would act as liaison officers and would be present in busy police stations to facilitate speedy dispensation of justice against offenders.
Speaking through his wife, Hon. Justice Suzzette Eberechi Nyesom Wike, at the opening ceremony of the FIDA Law Week 2015 and its National Executive Committee/ Annual General Meeting at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court, State High Court Complex, Port Harcourt, Wike said that he would give the Rivers State chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers ( FIDA) Nigeria, his full support.
Our Correspondent reports that the theme of the five- day conference is Making Effective Use Of Legislations To End Violence Against Women.
According to the Governor: “I will do everything in my power and capacity as the Governor of Rivers State to support FIDA and the women of Rivers State. Women can be provocative, it should not be an excuse for men to be violent towards women.
“Our men should be taught to exercise more self control and our women should be less provocative. Men should be the best they can be as husbands so that they can look after their wives, “ he said.
The Governor who believed that there was a lot to be achieved in the raising of children said that the issue of violence against women stemmed from the different upbringing given to the male and female child by parents in the home.
The State Chief Executive maintained that since all religions preached peace , children should be taught peace and how to be accommodating and tolerant so that the society would be better for it.
He called for more collaborative efforts between FIDA and Non Governmental Organizations dealing with actualizations of women’s rights and also advised that FIDA should tilt its advocacy and sensitization programmes more to women of the rural areas, but should not totally ignore the urban women.
Speaking earlier, the Chairperson FIDA Rivers State Chapter ,Mrs. Florence Itamunoala, said that the theme of this year’s NEC meeting was very apt and germane to women lawyers whose most potent weapon for the protection of the rights of women and children are legislations.
The key note speaker of the occasion maintained that violence against women can be put to an end through legislation in the courts.
Also speaking the event, the outgoing national president/country vice president, Mrs. Evelyn Shekarau, said that despite the many achievement of FIDA during her tenure, charged the incoming president not to rest on her oars because the rights of women and girl children are still being violated.