The Restoration for the Dignity of Womanhood ( ROTDOW), a Non-Governmental Organization ( NGO) in partnership with three other NGOs – Women Wing of CAN, Speaking Voice and 3T Foundation today organized a programme to mark this year’s celebration of International Day For Elimination of Violence Against Women

At the event held at ECWA Church ground, Akure, the CEO, ROTDOW, Mrs Olabisi Omolona said violence against women is a more serious cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age than cancer and a greater cause of ill-health than traffic accidents and malaria combined.

According to her, violence against women has over the years remained a means to maintain and reinforce women’s subordination as prosecution and conviction of men who beat or rape women or girls is rare when compared to the number of assaults.

Mrs Omolona who stressed the need for the rights of women to be well guided said advocacy and campaign for women to speak up in the face of violence should be taken to the grassroots most especially to a girl in schools across all levels stressing that as women and girls, their rights include the right to liberty, equal protection and rights to attain the highest standard attainable of physical and mental health among others.

While urging the Ondo State House of Assembly to pass the Violence Against Women Bill as obtainable in Ekiti State, Mrs Omolona recounts that in the last one year, her organization has handled more than 50 cases and that with the opening of Sex Offender Register, the rising cases of violence against women will decline.

Also addressing the women, the CEO, 3T Foundation, Mr Lukman Gbemi explored the challenges women face in their homes saying many women go into depression and contemplate suicide or take laws into their hands which have ultimately destroyed many homes.

He urged women to become financially independent and also speak up in the face of violence as silence kills just as he challenged the government to take advantage of technology and stop using 1930 ideas to solve 2020 problem.

Another of the partners, Mrs Bola Inyang, CEO, Speaking Voices, also used the opportunity to stress the need for women to continually speak up so that issues of violence are addressed saying when they are silent, there is no way help can be assessed.

The major highpoint of the event is a question and answer session where issues of gender violence were raised and addressed.

Earlier, the state chairperson of WOWICAN, Deaconess Adekoya Grace applauded the initiative saying as women’s organization, the group will continue to educate women on their rights while also galvanizing spiritual supports for them.