Chinedu Eze
13 September 2005
Abakaliki — Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, Rev. Michael Okoro, has condemned the high rate of rape, prostitution and woman-child labour that have become prevalent in the state and other parts of the country. He described the promotion of abortion rights as an infringement on the health of womanhood.
Okoro stated this while delivering a keynote address during a workshop on "Womanhood and Woman Health" organised by the Order of Knight of St. Mulumba Sub-council held at St Theresa's Cathedral, Abakaliki.
He decried the prominence of womanhood in human sexuality, noting that it was becoming acceptable in the world to encourage only one side of sexuality without projecting the complementary role, the fact that God created them male and female. He said it is this attitude that is promoting same sex "by emphasising and risk-pursuing and yearning for the culture of 'homosexuality."
The Bishop observed that it is the promotion of these ills that the world is now being besieged with the threat of extinction, through lethal diseases occasioned by viruses like HIV/AIDS and other venereal ailments.
In a paper titled: "Problems and Expectations of Womanhood in Contemporary Nigeria," Lady Stella Inogbo said women have suffered discrimination in all sectors of life, describing such practices as unjust, because they constitute offences against human rights.
She denounced certain aspects of the nation's laws, which tend to recognise customary laws that regard women as inferior to men.
Inogbo urged women to fight for themselves, noting that "the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world," advising women not to allow themselves to be treated as second class citizens.
She identified ignorance and illiteracy as the factors that militate against the upholding of women's rights, noting that a coordinated enlightenment campaign should be carried out mostly among rural dwellers in the country to educate women to embrace adult education programmes.
Inogbo stressed the need for the enhancement and development of culture of respect and recognition of women, and the removal of discriminatory laws against women.
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