BREAKING: Enugu Outlaws Girl-Child Marriage

Enugu state traditional rulers’ council has outlawed girl-child marriage and other obnoxious practices against women and girls.

In a communique issued at the end of a multi stakeholders’ strategic conference between the council and WomenAid Collective, chairman of the council, Lawrence Agubuzu also said that they are committed to implementing the Supreme Court judgment that females have a right to inherit property from the family estate, whether married or not.

Other gender-based harmful practices in the state like disinheritance of widows and sacrificing the girl child to shrines, have also been outlawed.

Agubuzu said;

“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 are also committed to actions to codify communal laws and regulations that will protect women and girls.”

Also announcing that the council supported the inclusion of women in the process of decision making on issues that affect them and inclusion of women in community leadership, he added that henceforth, traditional institutions in the state will mediate in human and women’s rights’ cases, in line with state, national, regional and international human rights laws.

Agubuzu said;

“Subsequently, we will have an Enugu state that is free from all forms of violence against women and girl child.”