A non-government organisation, Live Abundantly Empowerment Initiative has seized the occasion of the 2018 International Women’s Day to remind women and children of their rights and privileges.
At a symposium by the organisation to mark the day and fulfil its corporate objectives which amongst others include enhancing the lives of women and children through education, social awareness and advocacy, ending violence against women and children and aiding education for marginalised children, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who was special guest of honour at the event, lauded the organisation for complementing the effort of Lagos State at protecting women and children in the state.
According to her, the survival and development of this category of people, aiding societal growth, could not be if their rights were not guaranteed.
Represented by the Director General, Office of Quality Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, Adebule noted that the present administration in the state recognised the role of women and children which explained the state’s proactive steps at ensuring their full rights including fairness and equality through deliberate policies and sustained efforts.
She maintained that government alone could not guarantee an individual’s right to live with dignity, hence rely on initiatives of this nature to up the ante and create a society where rights were upheld.
Explaining some of the steps taken by the state, she said, “The state recently commissioned two sexual offences courts to aid quick disposition of sexual-related offences and to complement the operations of Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, (DSVRT).
She added that the state currently operated 18 skills acquisition centres to train and empower women, thus alleviating poverty among them.
“Thousands of women including widows and the vulnerable have benefitted from the state’s Mega Empowerment Programmes where they were trained and supported with equipment and micro loans to make them self-reliant.
Speaking on the theme of the programme, ‘Human Rights – Personal Privileges’, Founder of the organisation, Dr. Ama Onyerinma stated that in line with the NGO’s objectives, it was using the occasion to raise awareness on the international and national policies that have already been instituted like the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Lagos State Child’s Right Law 2007 and others to create an unbiased, informed and progressive society for its target audience.
“We are living in a society where human right is like a privilege but it is vital to the society and humanity. Human right is not just fundamental, but a right that if it is violated, it creates injustice, imbalance and all other social ills one can think of,†she said.
The programme which was well attended by students across secondary and primary schools, universities, women and men had experts from different government agencies and sectors enlightened the attendees on various aspects of their rights.
