Director, Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Onitsha Archdiocese, Dame Ngozi Nwanosike, has urged women to end the vicious cycle of gender violence in their various homes.Mrs Nwanosike, who doubles as Education Secretary, Onitsha North Local Government Area (LGA), made the plea in a special message to mark the 2020 July/August Conference, by Catholic Christian Mothers at the Holy Family Parish, Nkpor.
Nwanosike was represented by the organiser, Holy Cross Zone, Mrs Mary-Martha Onwugbene.According to her, the Catholic Women observed a low key staging of the July/August Conference because of ravaging Coronavirus pandemic.In her address, Mrs Nwanosike urged parents, especially mothers to know their children’s feelings and needs: “do not compare your children with others, every child is unique.
To be a mother, is a gift, but a good Christian mother is a blessing. Cultivate a skill to resolve your children’s feelings and conflicts,’’ she pleaded.Mrs Nwanosike expressed dissatisfaction at how mothers, guardians leave their children for sexual abuse, physical abuse, depriving them from attending school.She warned mothers to stop maltreating and giving emotional and psychological abuse to their house helps.
Always maintain good dressing habits for your children, especially young girls. Indecent dressing can cause rape by men.’’She added that mothers were not exceptional on this dressing issue.Nwanosike urged mothers to ensure that they maintain social distancing, wearing face masks and washing their hands regularly, under running water.
Reacting to the development, Mrs Onwugbene said that this year’s July/August Meeting was observed at zonal EXCO levels in adherence to the Church and Government directives.We are facing an uncertain and challenging situation, occasioned by the Coronavirus pandemic, which has drastically altered our normal way of life.We should be hosting this conference in a special way, but we are called to make it low and shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the survival of our families and everyone by ensuring that we do the right things to avoid the threat of COVID-19 scourge.’’
She noted that mothers should not take laws into their hands, whenever they discover a rape suspect: “always contact the Police, if need be.As praying mothers, we have no doubt that once we observe the law and stay at home and practice basic hygiene, God, who is ever merciful, will listen to our plea and spare our families.’’ (MOI)
