Traditional Rulers Council outlaws girl child marriage in Enugu

12 Aug Traditional Rulers Council outlaws girl child marriage in Enugu

The Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council has outlawed girl-child marriage and other sorts of gender-based harmful practices within the state.

This is contained during a communique issued after a multi stakeholders strategic conference between the council and WomenAid Collective.

The conference was organised in partnership with the Ford Foundation with support from Enugu State Ministries of Gender Affairs, Chieftaincy Matters and Justice and the 50/50 Action Women of the state.

The communique, signed by the Chairman of the Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, stated that the council was committed to the abolition of the obnoxious practice of sacrificing the girl child to shrines.

Agubuzu said the council condemned all sorts of violence against women and girl child and was committed to their empowerment within the state.

He further said the council was committed to the abrogation of harmful traditional widowhood practices, including disinheritance of widows.

“We are committed to implementing the Supreme Court judgment that females have a right to inherit property from the family estate, whether married or not.

“We also are committed to actions to codify communal laws and regulations which will protect women and girls,” he said.

The royal father said the council supported the inclusion of girls within the process of deciding on issues that affect them.

According to Agubuzu, the normal institution would, henceforth, mediate in human and women rights cases, in line with state, national, regional and international human rights laws.