“WHEN JESUS ENDED IT” – ADVENTIST WOMEN VOICE OUT AGAINST GENDER ABUSE IN PORT HARCOURT

Rumuodomanya, women on placards.

By Ekpor Temple & Jennifer Emejuru

The Women Ministries in Port Harcourt have expressed optimism that the purpose for organizing this year's World Adventist Women Sabbath to campaign against Gender Based Violence would yield positive result despite the ravaging novel Coronavirus.

With recent studies indicating 28% of Nigerian Women between ages 25-29 experience Gender based violence since age 15, Adventist Women Ministries (AWM) in Port Harcourt Conference of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, on 22nd of August 2020, Celebrated her World Adventist Women Ministries Sabbath Tagged "End it Now" with peaceful walk in different parts of Port Harcourt Metropolis.

Speaking to A-Media PHC, the Women Ministries Director, Mrs. Ifeoma Amadi said the programme is to preach against any form of abuse melted on humanity especially women and girls. While stating that they are figure heads as they are usually victims of domestic and sexual cruelty.

“The programme which was targeted to end every form of abuse; and the women came out to call for the end of these abuses in Adventist homes and beyond"

“When Jesus ended it” was this year's theme. The Women however, likened it to how Jesus Christ ended all forms of abuses, irrespective of gender.

Aker Road Church, Women's Ministries on a street awareness campaign against women and Child Abuse 

All over the world, perpetrators of Gender Based Violence continue to go unpunished and in some cases unreported. In Nigeria, against women is almost accepted as a fact of life in some cultures that perceive women as the property of their husbands, with most common forms like sexual harassment, physical violence, harmful traditional practices, emotional and psychological violence etc.

“When Jesus Ended It!” was this year's theme and the women in their campaign against Gender Based Violence religiously tied it to how Jesus Christ ended all forms of abuse, especially in the biblical story of the Woman Caught in the Act, Mary Magdalene (John 8:4-11). In one voice, the women are saying there should be no form of gender discrimination.

The Vibrant Women leader however sounded very optimistic that the purpose of organizing the programme was achieved, although the outbreak of the novel-hydra coronavirus disrupted their original wide scale plans. 

GC Adventist women's ministries prevention day at Akwukabi church

“I am sure our aim was achieved, though the outbreak of the Covid-19 slowed it down. But the women went out for enlightenment campaigns with placards imprinted words that condemns women and Child abuse,” she finally said.