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Cross River State Government has reinstated its commitment to partner any Non-Government Organisation that will support its effort in safe space environment, gender equality, gender equity and the pursuit of sustainable development and social justice in the state.
The Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong stated this while commissioning the Safe Space supported by the UNFPA/GADA at the West African People Institute (WAPI) in Calabar.
Asibong assured that the State Government will continue to engage partners to support such laudable initiatives in public schools, saying Safe Space has come to stay in the state.
She described a Safe Space as a place or environment in which people, especially women and adolescent girls, can feel safe and confident knowing they will not be exposed to any form of discrimination, criticism, harassment or any other emotional or physical harm.
The Commissioner concluded by commending UNFPA and GADA for their support towards the establishment and equipping of the Safe Space, charging the school’s principal on safeguard and judicious use of the items.
Earlier in her remarks, the UNFPA/GADA Team Lead, Mrs Akon Bassey, noted that GADA is the implementing Civil Society Organisation (CSO) for the Spotlight initiatives programme with commitment to reduce gender inequality and provide opportunities for girls child, while creating awareness to curb child molestation and abuse of women in Nigeria.
“Under the initiative in 2021, GADA established Safe Spaces within formal and non-formal settings in different secondary schools, including WAPI Secondary School and Henshaw Town Secondary School.
This effort is in line with the Ben Ayade led Government’s resolve to ensure that school children study in a safe and secure environment free of all forms of violence” she explained.”
In his remarks, the WAPI Principal thanked GADA, UNFPA and the State Government for their support and provisions of the items to the school.
Along with the structure, office cabinets, chairs, dignity kits, generators, reading materials to ensure the comfort of survivors at the adolescent safe space were also donated amongst others.
