The Honourable Chief Judge of Delta State, Honourable Justice Tessy Diai has received the members of the National Executive Committee of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) led by the National President, Dr. Minnie Oseji
Victor Bieni media learnt this today in Asaba, Delta State capital as MWAN National Executive Committee paid her a courtesy visit in Thursday 5th August, 2021.
Our reporter learnt that the visit provided the association with the opportunity to inform Honourable Justice Diai about the activities of MWAN, and wish her good health and a successful tenure as the Chief Judge of Delta State of Nigeria.
Dr. Minnie Oseji in her speech, informed the Honourable Chief Judge, the progress with the association’s campaign on “Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls”, for which Honourable Justice Diai had provided technical support in the past.
Speaking further, she noted that the association has been carrying out programmes targeted at achieving SDGS particularly Goals 3 and 5 as well as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
In her words: “The current 2019-2021 National Executive came into office on 14th September, 2019.
The Theme for the 2019 – 2021 biennium is Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health. The Sub-themes include:
Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination”.
“▪️ Elimination of Harmful Traditional Practices especially Female Genital Mutilation
▪️Economic Empowerment of Women for health
▪️ Overcoming Intimate Partner Violence”.
Dr. Oseji said, that since the 2019-2021 Biennium, she had led MWAN to implement an 8 point strategy to contribute to elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls in Nigeria. The strategy involves:
She said: “a. Conducting advocacy to influential men who we call our male champions to promote Male Involvement in Maternal and Child Health which includes standing against VAWG”.
“b. Using a uniform template to submit documentation on VAWG. From September 2019 till date 15 cases from Delta, Edo, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Nassarawa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Anambra, Benue States and FCT have been documented and submitted to the MWAN National Secretariat for compilation and analysis. Delta State had the highest number of cases which was 4. Six of the victims were female Medical Doctors, and seven were female Pupils/Students”.
“There was one nurse and one health attendant as well as one out-of-school adolescent. Violent acts included physical assault, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence. Two of the victims were delivered of a baby each. In three of the cases, the perpetrators were reported to the police or charged to court, one case was reported to NAPTIP while in two other cases, the mothers of the victims declined further action”.
“c. Conducting advocacy and awareness creation on VAWG including participating in the Global Virtual Red Shoes Protest on VAWG, Signing of the Global Treaty to end VAWG, circulation of our hotline for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) which is 0705 748 8104. MWAN commenced an online call for the Establishment of a National Task Force on Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls occuring through Ritual Activities in Nigeria on 6th February 2021 as part of her commemoration of International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. This Task Force should be headed by a representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs with members drawn from the Judiciary, Police and MWAN”.
“At the Opening Ceremony of the 61st Annual General Conference & Annual Delegates’ Meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) which took place in Jos, Plateau State on Thursday 29th April 2021, the National President of MWAN, Dr. Minnie Oseji submitted the letter calling for the establishment of a National Task Force on Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls occuring through Ritual Activities in Nigeria, with the list of names of those who signed the letter, to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Her Excellency Dame Pauline Tallen. MWAN in the letter urged the Federal Government to establish the National Task Force with branches in all States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory pending when appropriate laws are enacted to proffer a sustainable solution to this menace”.
“It is hoped that this would be domesticated in Delta State once approved at the federal level.
d. Circulating the Delta State Ministry of Health protocol on management of rape”.
“e. Oganizing training on various strategies to control Gender-Based Violence one of which was held on Saturday 20th February 2021 with Hon. Justice Excel Timi and Barrister L. Omeze as resource persons”.
“f. Initiating collaboration with the judiciary to strengthen the Family Courts. Some proposed strategies for strengthening the Family Courts include
(a) Capacity Building for personnel of the family Court
(b) Appointment and training of marriage counselors to which couples experiencing marital disharmony can be referred.
(c) Sensitization of the public on the need to shun such practices through enlightenment campaign with special focus on parents and teachers”.
Dr. Oseji explained that MWAN organised a 2-Day Webinar titled Basic Principles in Christian Marriage Counselling in May 2021.
According to the globally acclaimed Medical Practitioner, Dr. Mrs Minnie Oseji stated that the program was aimed at building the capacity of Christian Health Workers and other interested persons in Marriage Counselling as well as responsible parenting. After the Webinar, two Medical Women volunteered to assist with marriage counselling of couples experiencing marital disharmony and have been sent resource material to use for this activity”.
“g. Initiating collaboration with the police to interview perpetrators to determine their motivation for such violent acts.
h. Working closely with FIDA and other stakeholders to share information. At this juncture, the association appreciated the support of the Delta State Judiciary for their programmes by appointing a judicial office in the person of Barrister Tabowei to work with MWAN to review cases of Violence Against Women and Girls and strengthen the Family Courts. This would be easier now that the Violence Against Persons Prohibition
Law in Delta State has been passed in 2020″.
“Already the association has received details of 46 cases of Violence against Women and Girls from the Delta State Judiciary excluding cases in Asaba Division Criminal Jurisdiction because the courts were burnt by EndSars protester”.
“Since this Biennium, the National Secretariat of MWAN has received 3 reported cases of FGM from Delta State, Edo State and Bauchi State. Following up with legal action when the life of the victim is at stake is usually quite challenging”.
The National President of MWAN, also made a passionate appeal to the Honurable Chief Judge to promote a multi-sectoral approach to reducing Violence Against Women and Girls involving collaboration between stakeholders through sharing of information and organisation of joint programmes to achieve the required behaviour change that can open doors for sustainable solutions.
Responding to MWAN National Executive Committee gestures on the visit, the Honourable Chief Judge thanked the association for their visit and felicitation.
She explained the challenges in ensuring justice is served in cases on Violence Against Women and Girls which can ultimately lead to death.
She promised to examine the issue of the three family courts in the State to see how their role in resolving conflicts that predispose to Violence Against Women and Girls can be strengthened.