by By Admin
The efforts of the wife of Cross River State Governor, Dr Linda Ayade to fight the practice of Money Marriage in Becheve community of Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State, took the centre Stage at the two days workshop organised by the National Human Right Commission in Collaboration with the United Nations and European Union.
The workshop which held at Lagos Hall, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, had the Commissioner For International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong gave the expository of the Cross River Challenge.
Dr. Linda Ayade had through her pet project Mediatrix Develoment Foundation intervened and engaged the communities involved in the act, through the traditional rulers, religious leaders, the Media as well as Civil Society organizations.
The Governor’s wife efforts according to Asibong had increased advocacy to policy makers and community leaders, expanded efforts to educate, sensitize and provide a platform for the people of Becheve and Utanga communities to discuss issues related to gender-based violence.
Asibong explained how Cross River State Government had also set up a high-powered Committee through the effort of the wife of the Governor in a bid to end the inhumane cultural practice of money-Girl-marriage which she described as a form of Gender-based Violence.
She explained the Cross River Challenge and the effort of the State Government with hope that the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and other International Donors will partner the state Government and possibly be on ground in Becheve to see things for themselves.
According to Asibong, the plight of the girl-child should be a collective concern with a drive to end human right abuses in the Country.
“These young girls are married out to pay debts owed by their parents. This marriage could take place at age five, three, and sometimes even before their conception, where hey are already sold to pay debts. This can go on for decades, so it’s a form of child slavery.
“It has been an age long cultural practices which have been transferred from generation to generation. But what I came here to tell you is that Cross River State Government has taken it as a challenge and we are solving the problem using the political will of the Governor and special support of his wife, Dr Linda Ayade.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is better to be there than said because it is real and on behalf of His Excellency, I wish to call for immediate support and partnership between Cross River State Government and the United Nations, the European Union and other Development Partners to end the practice of Money Marriage in the State” she added.
