Violence Against Women
Source: Vanguard
Rivers State Governor, Mr Chibuike Amaechi, has said that one way to curb violence against women and sexploitation of women was to address the economic imbalance in the country.
Amaechi spoke as the chief host of a one-day conference on, "Violence Against Women and Sextortion" organised by the National Association of Women Judges in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, weekend.
He said: "I look at this issue of 'sextortion' from the economic realities in Nigeria. I doubt if there is any woman born on earth who wants to use her body to the detriment of herself.
"When people are so denied of what they truly need to live comfortable lives, they feel seriously compelled to engage in any kind of livelihood without actually considering whether or not such means of survival are morally right or wrong."
He noted that when some poor parents could not pay school fees for especially, their grown- up daughters, they may be compelled by such economic challenges to even knowingly give out their daughters for sexual activities for financial gains.
"So we must agree that the economic challenges we currently face as a nation could be linked to what you judges refer to as sextortion.
"The only time the judges can begin to redefine sextortion is when those who are in public office begin to give equal opportunities, I did not say money, I say fair opportunities for people to compete favourably. What drives a lot of people into 'sextortion' is the economic challenges they face from day to day. They become victims of such economic challenges,'' Amaechi said.
He noted that whatever social misbehaviour people exhibit in earning a living has a direct link with the country's economy and what they get out of the economy when compared with others in the society.
Amaechi argued that this harsh situation has made women more vulnerable in their bid to survive, adding that in 2011, the National Bureau of Statistics, said 71 percent of Nigerians are poor.
He argued that unless the economic inbalance was addressed, whatever law put in place to fight the menace may not be effective.
Also, Speaker of House of Representative, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, who declared the conference open lauded the association for organising the forum.
He said that such conference will help address the plight of women and charged them to continue in their quest to improve the lot of womenfolk. "Sextortion is a great violence against women and it's good that you make your position known," he said.
He decried the rising spate of women in drug trafficking, and urged the group to address the problem.