The Speaker of the RIvers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi Owaji Ibani, said that the Laws passed by Rivers lawmakers are for the interest of the general public as it impacts positively on the lives of the people of the state.
He dropped the hint when the International Federation Of Women Lawyers (FIDA), paid him a courtesy call in his office.
He said that several bills have been passed to ensure that the vulnerables in the Society are taken care of and advised them to take their advocacy beyond women and girl child since there are still young men who are being molested regularly by elderly women.
He commended the women lawyers for acknowledging the work being done by the legislature and assured them of the House’s support especially in terms passing quality laws in support of the girl child adding that the Assembly shares the same fears and sentiments with FIDA.
Earlier, the Chairperson, Bar. Ngozi Odukwe disclosed that FIDA is a non-profit and non-governmental organization made up of female lawyers whose activities include to ensure that the interest of the vulnerable woman and girl child is represented.
She also said that the association embarks on court representation, mediation, advocacy, sensitization, school outreaches among other things and commended the Speaker for passing into law the Dehumanizing And Harmful Practices Abolition Amendment Bill of 2019.
She noted that the people are not aware of the law and pleaded that the law be domesticated in the grass roots through the councillors at the Local Government Councils.
Stressing the need to make the law known to all and sundry she opined that sensitizations and advocacies on the law be done in collaboration with agencies like National Orientation Agency (NOA) so as to bring it to the knowledge of everyone.
