6 Nigerian Girls Killed In Italy Monthly -Varsity Don

A lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, Barrister Boma Kingson Enyingwa says six Nigerians girls are killed monthly by serial killers in Italy, while 30 per cent of Nigerians trafficked through the Sahara Desert die in transit.

Barrister (Mrs) Enyingwa who said this in her paper entitled; “Ending Violence Against Women and the Girl Child:, Understanding the Issues, at a media briefing session organized by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Port Harcourt also said that two million women are trafficked across international boarders annually.

She said that the situation constitutes a serious threat to human security and development.

In her words; ‘ this is the plight of women on a daily basis, pointing out that even mothers have also been identified as partakers of this wicked act by using poverty as an excuse to give out their girls children and wards to unknown persons as maids, servants who turn out to be predators.

She also lamented the high rate of domestic violence against women while many of them are being abused sexually.

In his paper entitled “ “Communicating for change’ the Head of Department of Mass Communication RSUST, Port Harcourt, Dr Godwin B. Okon said that Communication as a tool for Change is incontrovertible. “Communication in this regard can initiate a process that motivates people to adopt and sustain behaviours required for the good of all, he said.

Dr Okon also said that the empowerment of women is vital to sustainable development  and the realization of human rights.

In his words; “ when women are empowered, whole families benefit and these benefits often have ripple effect for future generations because the hand that rocks the cradle shapes the future”.

Also speaking on the theme: “Legal Issues on Violence Against Women’, Mrs Helen Hardy urged the removal of all impediment to the protection of the rights of women.

She also called on the media to give prominence to the issues of women rights, while all cultural practices that inhibit women development must be stopped.

Earlier, the chairperson of FIDA in the state , Mrs Florence Amieseimaka called for the domestication  of all international conventions on the rights of women in the country.

Mrs Amiesimaka further said that the federation will hold its 2009 FIDA week from the 23rd to 29th of November, this year.