HELP FOR 50 WIDOWS IN IMO STATE

VOICE OF CARE MINISTRY rehabilitates and helps the poor, abandoned indigent women & widows in villages of Imo state who are marginalized and exploited. The challenges will be addressed through their legal, social & economic empowerment. This will also result in developing human consciousness & bring about a wide change in attitudes of the society towards such women.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Alarming number of rural women live in dire misery who are either widows or abandoned by their husbands including HIV women. They are treated as outcasts by their own & husband's family. These women many times with children, are thrown out, live on subsistence, are exploited. Voice of care mainstreams these women's lives through campaigns & actions about their social & legal status, empowers with knowledge-attitude skills to fight for themselves & provide food for them.

How will this project solve this problem?

The project will reach these women with information, awareness and training on their legal and social rights to property and maintenance (especially regarding houses and agriculture land); on personality development & leadership, on AIDS, on better farming practices; help them avail of available government relief schemes, loans for setting up trades & businesses. The project will reach at least 50 widows and would rehabilitate, empower them and give them sense of belonging in the society.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project will be an opportunity for these abandoned women to get rehabilitated & become an integral part of society, to stand on their own feet, improve their children's lives, gain acknowledgement, respect from family & society, not only as beneficiaries but also as contributors to the growth. Today they are outcasts, exploited, many times also sexually, viewed with superstition. The project would especially result in changing attitude of rural society to such women to a large extent.

THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN

THE ISSUE: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Physical, sexual and psychological violence strikes women in epidemic proportions worldwide. It crosses every social and economic class, every religion, race and ethnicity. From domestic abuse to rape as a weapon of war, violence against women is a gross violation of their human rights. Not only does it threaten women's health and their social and economic well-being, violence also thwarts global efforts to reduce poverty.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Support our workon behalf of women and girls worldwide.Violence is, however, preventable. Although no silver bullet will eliminate it, a combination of efforts that address income, education, health, laws and infrastructure can significantly reduce violence and its tragic consequences. First and foremost, abusive behavior towards women must be viewed as unacceptable. Communities need to have an important role in defining solutions to violence and providing support to victims. And men must be engaged in the process too, as agents of change standing alongside women to end violence.If the world does not address the issue, it stands to suppress the enormous potential of women and girls. When they feel safe, when they are empowered, women and girls can be game-changers. The catalyst for the next great innovation. The leaders of a more just world. The driving force behind stronger economies.

OUR ROLE

ICRW employs a multifaceted approach to reducing violence against women. We conduct empirical research to better understand the incidence of violence, costs associated with it and factors that lead to it. We also are building evidence on interventions designed to prevent violence against women, particularly comprehensive approaches that include economically empowering women, involving boys and men, protecting survivors of violence and rehabilitating men who are abusive. ICRW is examining the policy dimensions of violence prevention by evaluating the impact of and challenges to existing legislation and using our findings to advocate for stronger, more effective laws. Finally, ICRW participates in strategic regional and global networks that work to strengthen civil society and advance the field of preventing violence against women.

SPONSORSHIP OF 2,400 PUPILS BY FG

THE Federal Government has approved N435 million for the sponsorship of 2,400 pupils from the three Northeast states under the safe school initiative.The amount, which is budgeted for, covers all expenses for the scheme, such as feeding and books.Part of the money, it was learnt yesterday, will be made available as stipends to parents interested in going to the schools to check on their sons and daughters.The first batch of students are from the three states of Borno, Yobe andAdamawa, where a state of emergency is being enforced as a result of the activities of Boko Harram.

LAGOS STATE DECLARES TODAY, NOV. 7 A WORK FREE DAY

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has declared Friday, November 7 a work-free day for public servants in the state.The governor made the announcement on Wednesday, November 5, in a bid to enable workers in the state to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC).Fashola said:“November 7th shall be a work free day in order to enable workers to carry out this civic duty and exercise their civic rights.

COURT STRIPS FRSC OF POWER TO FINE MOTORISTS FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES

A Federal High Court in Lagos has voided the powers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to impose fines on motorists for traffic offences.Justice John Tsoho held that the FRSC could not turn itself into a court of law by punishing those who commit traffic offences.A lawyer, Tope Alabi, had approached the court to declare that only a court of competent jurisdiction could pronounce a person guilty under Section 10 (4) and 28 (2) of the FRSC Act 2007.Other defendant in the suit was the Attorney General of the Federation.