By Asmau Ahmad with Agency Report
The Civil Liberties Organisation on Friday called for an immediate end to all forms of abuse against the girl-child. Mr Livingstone Wechie, the CLO’s Publicity Secretary, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
Wechie, who described the girl-child as the foundation for a generational advancement, said it was wrong to molest her.
‘’Every woman, no matter the age, deserves the best, because she is the mother of our children and we need to treat her with caution and respect.
‘’It is, indeed, very bad for some people to rape, molest, maltreat, bully and engage in all kinds of violence against the girl-child.
“Need I say that such acts of violence are not only unacceptable, they are also grievously inhuman,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the general public and civil societies to ensure adequate protection of the woman irrespective of her position in the society. Wechie also advocated the need to appreciate the dual role of women, both in the home and in nation building.
“Women are responsible for the up bring of their children even when the men are not there, yet Nigerians must also reconsider the indispensable role of women in nation building,” he said.
He, however, urged parents to ensure that their female children were adequately educated and given equal opportunity with their male counterparts.
Wechie said that the only way to positively secure the future for women is to open up education opportunities for them. He condemned the idea of early marriages initiated by some parents, describing it as inimical to the girl-child development.
