Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke recently attended the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Cross River state 38th Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference as a Special Guest and panelist to discuss femicide, a pressing issue that continues to affect women globally.
The platform provided an opportunity to highlight the root causes of femicide and the proactive measures being implemented under the leadership of His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, through the Department of Gender Mainstreaming in Cross River State.
In her presentation, Bassey-Duke explained that femicide is deeply rooted in power imbalances and gender inequalities, often exacerbated by harmful cultural norms, weak implementation of gender laws, patriarchy, and the lack of women’s economic empowerment.
Utibe Abasi Bassey Duke further outlined several key initiatives undertaken by the Department of Gender Mainstreaming to address these challenges:
1. Engaging Traditional Leaders: On the International Day of the Girl Child, the Department facilitated discussions with the Obong of Calabar, who pledged to eliminate harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and ensure the creation of safe spaces for women and girls.
2. Training Security Agencies: During the upcoming 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, plans are in place to train security agencies on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, ensuring it is effectively implemented to protect survivors and prosecute offenders.
3. Promoting Positive Masculinity: Recognizing the need to involve men and boys as allies, the Department has initiated engagement sessions with secondary school boys to teach them about gender equality, nonviolent emotional expression, and positive masculinity. These efforts will be further emphasized during International Men’s Day, focusing on redefining what it means to be a positive role model.
4. Advocating for Care Policies: The Department is actively working toward developing policies that redistribute caregiving responsibilities, such as paternity leave and support for child and elder care. These measures aim to empower women by enabling them to participate fully in economic activities.
Bassey-Duke also highlighted the role of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) Cross River State in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through effective referral pathways. She commended the Cross River State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency Sen. Prince Bassey Otu and Her Excellency Dr. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, for their comprehensive approach to GBV, which includes:
GBV dash board for data in Cross River State
Establishing One-Stop Centers for GBV survivors supported by UNFPA
– Gender Desk Officers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies
– Launching the GBV Situation Room by CCRN and the Ministry of Women Affairs
– Opening a second Family Court
– Safe Spaces by GADA
These initiatives reflect a strong commitment to combating violence against women and girls while fostering a safer and more equitable society. However, Bassey-Duke emphasized that achieving lasting change requires the collective effort of government agencies, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and individuals.
In her final speech at the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Cross River state 38th conference, She concluded by calling for sustained action and collaboration to address the root causes of femicide and ensure the safety and empowerment of women and girls.