The Neighbourhood Environment Watch (NEW) Foundation has commenced an aggressive advocacy and capacity-building campaign to train men and youths as allies, advocates, and agents of transformation towards ending gender-based violence (GBV) in Ebonyi and across the South East.
The initiative, tagged Male Feminists Network (MFN), received major endorsements from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation (EBBC) during separate advocacy visits by the Foundation’s delegation.
The endorsement by the NHRC followed a courtesy visit to its Ebonyi State office by a team from the Foundation led by its Executive Director and Project Lead, Dr Kelechukwu Okezie recently.
Okezie said that the Male Feminists Network project was designed to mobilise men and young people as active partners in dismantling toxic masculinities and patriarchal structures that perpetuate inequality and violence against women and girls.
He noted that the initiative would employ strategies such as capacity-building workshops, media advocacy, mentorship programmes, and recognition of male champions committed to gender equality.
“This project is designed to foster an egalitarian society where no gender is oppressed or marginalised,” Okezie said.
Receiving the delegation, the Acting State Coordinator of the NHRC, Mr Ejim, commended the NEW Foundation for its consistency in promoting social and environmental justice in the state.
He assured the Foundation of the Commission’s readiness to partner on initiatives that promote and protect human rights, particularly those affecting vulnerable groups.
“We are always open to partnerships that aim to end all forms of human rights violations, especially those affecting women and girls,” Ejim said.
The visit culminated in the official endorsement of the Male Feminists Network by the NHRC, along with the distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials to raise public awareness on GBV.
In a similar development, the Director-General of EBBC, Comrade Tony Nwizi, also endorsed the Male Feminists Network, pledging the corporation’s full media support to the campaign.
Nwizi lauded the NEW Foundation for what he described as a “transformative initiative,” noting that no society could achieve sustainable development when any segment of its population was marginalised.
“We will work with the Foundation to create the needed awareness because this aligns with the state government’s vision to empower all segments of society and end gender-based violence, including harmful practices such as genital cutting,” Nwizi said.
Our correspondent reports that the endorsements marked a major milestone in strengthening collaboration between civil society organisations and government agencies in the collective effort to eliminate gender-based violence in Ebonyi State.
